Assessment of the motivations of the professional activity of doctors at the initial stage of studying at the Institute of Osteopathy (Moscow)

Abstract

Introduction. Motivational factors are determinants of well-being and quality of life in professional activity. Motivation of medical workers is mainly determined by such factors as the possibility of self-realization, achievement of respect and interest in the content of work.The aim to assess the motives of professional activity of future osteopathic physicians.Materials and methods. A questionnaire was administered to 62 physicians of various specialties during their first year of study according to the Educational Program for Additional Professional Education of Professional Retraining for 3 504 hours in the specialty «Osteopathy» at the Institute of Osteopathy (Moscow). The average age of those surveyed was about 37,8±7,4 years, of whom 27 individuals were male and 35 — female. And they were split into two age groups: 38 people under 40 years old and 24 people over 40 years old. All surveyed people were also divided into two groups according to their medical specialty: therapists (42 people) and surgeons (20 people). We also formed two groups based on the place of residence: those from Moscow and St. Petersburg (33 people) and those arriving from other regions (29 people). Motivational interviewing was performed using a software psychodiagnostic complex APC Multipsychometer. The «Motivational Profile» psychological questionnaire was used to assess professionally significant motives of professional activity. The assessed indicators were: money, career, relationships with management, relationships with colleagues, intrinsic (inner) motivation, recognition, success, responsibility and interesting work. Mathematical processing of the obtained research materials was carried out on a PC using Statistica 6.0 application software packages. In psychophysiology, it is generally accepted to translate «raw» grades (scores) into standard «sten» (sn) grades using tables. Linear conversion of «raw» scores into standardized scales (stens) was carried out using Statistica 6.0 and Excel.Results. The highest values of the indicators were noted on the scales of interesting work and intrinsic motivation (over 7 sn). Success and responsibility scales also showed high values (6,3–6,8 sn). The career and relations with management values (4,3 sn) were below the average alongside with the relations with colleagues scales (3,6 sn). The results of factor analysis showed that in 68,4 % cases the linear combination of initial attributes of surveyed doctors was determined by 3 main factors: responsibility (35,2 %), attitude to recognition and career (17 %) and the level of relationships with colleagues (16,2 %). Responsibility for professional performance was more pronounced for men (19,3 %; p<0,03) than for women. For women, however, the motif of relations with colleagues had greater value by 28,1 % (p<0,03). In the age group up to 40 years old, the values of the career indicator were greater by 33,3 % (p<0,05), compared to those aged 41 and over, where the expression of the management relation motif was 25,6 % greater (p<0,05). The correlation of expression of professional motives with the region of doctors′ residence has been revealed. The money motive was 20,4 % higher for those living in peripheral regions of Russia (Altai, Siberia, Ural, South of Russia) in comparison with those living in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was also found that doctors with up to 20 years of medical experience had a greater importance of motives regarding career and responsibility (43,3 %; p<0,05) than those with more than 20 years of experience (36,2 %; p<0,05). The importance of money as a motive was 24 % greater (p<0,05) if the duration of work experience was 20 years or more. The comparative characteristic of the indicators of motives in connection with the medical specialty (therapeutic, surgical) before admission to study did not reveal any significant differences.Conclusion. There has been established leading role of internal motivation and high responsibility factors, not related to monetary reward. The indicators varied depending on the gender, length of service and the region of residence of the doctors.