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Table 4 Qualitative data produced by the open-ended question “What motivates me the most in medical training?”

From: Relationship between metacognitive awareness and motivation to learn in medical students

Category

Issues

Examples

Personal satisfaction

Knowledge

“I am motivated by the medical course. I really like to study medicine.”

“It is really exciting to seek new information in order to become the best doctor, in technical and humanistic aspects.”

“I am very fond of learning and having good medical training.”

Money

“I feel motivated to keep studying when I think I’m going to be very rich in the future.”

“The prospect of the financial security offered by a medical career keeps me motivated to go on.”

“I want to improve mine and my family’s financial conditions by becoming a doctor.”

Status

“I really look forward to becoming a surgeon.”

“My main goal is to finish my undergraduate course and enroll in a specialization in psychiatry.”

Altruism

Patient care

“What motivates me the most in medical training is the conviction that in the future, I will participate in patients’ histories and make efforts to make their lives better through the knowledge I have acquired.”

“I like to promote health through patients’ expectations and understanding of their disease.”

“I am motivated by the challenge of learning and practising medicine, as long as it involves a high impact on people’s lives.”

“The patient’s feedback is very important for me to become a good professional.”

Social responsibility

“I feel happy to be able to experience different scenarios and positively impact people lives.”

Educational environment

Curriculum

“I enjoy activities that involve good case discussions based on patients.”

“I feel motivated when faculty promote activities in which I can talk to patients.”

Supportive networks

“My friends are who motivate me the most in academic environments.”

“I feel motivated to be part of a sports team in the University Athletic Association.”

“I believe my main motivation is to be enrolled in some extracurricular activities offered by my university.”

Negative emotions

Anxiety

“I just want to finish the undergraduate course as quickly as possible.”

“I try to keep in mind that the course will end soon.”

Demotivation

“The course doesn’t motivate me.”