TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, cilt.13, sa.2, ss.115-124, 2014 (Scopus)
AIM: This study was conducted to determine factors that motivate Gulhane Military Medical Faculty (GATA) students towards the profession of medicine. METHOD: The population of the study consisted of students studying at the Gulhane Military Medical Faculty in the 2012-2013 academic year. A total of 700 questionnaires were delivered, and 548 were returned. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistical methods, the significance control test between compared means, and ANOVA test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: It was observed that Learning Motivation was the primary factor, followed by Intrinsic Motivation as the secondary factor motivating the students. There was a statistically significant difference between the students' years of education and selecting Gulhane Military Medical Faculty (following the Student Selection and Placement Exam administered in Turkey), and the motivational factors. General Motivation, Learning Motivation, and Negative Motivation mean scores of first-year students were higher than the average scores of second- and third-year students. Students who voluntarily chose the Gulhane Military Medical Faculty had higher mean Intrinsic Motivation scores than the others. CONCLUSION: It should be asked students' expectations from medical education, using appealing materials, increasing their interest and willingness in pursuing a medical education and the profession of medicine by forming study groups among students in different years of education.