Professional Learning in the Workplace: How and Why do Physicians Learn?

Learning in the workplace supports physicians in developing competences to ensure quality medical care. As such, learning in the workplace is essential for physicians’ life-long professional development. Notwithstanding its importance, research on physicians’ learning in the workplace and the corresponding motivational drivers is limited. In this study, 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore experienced physicians’ learning activities and their motivation for learning in the workplace. In addition, it was examined whether differences could be noted in learning in the workplace depending on physicians’ experience, specialism, gender or the type of hospital they work in.

Concepts from learning in the workplace and motivation theories, i.e. learning activities in the workplace, self-determination theory and achievement goal theory, guided the data analysis, and an inductive analysis was conducted as well. Results revealed various learning activities for instance but not limited to: learning by asking colleagues for feedback, asking for help while performing particular medical actions, helping students while conducting their assignments or observing colleagues. Besides, the participants indicated different motives for learning. Physicians reported that they are motivated to properly perform their job, they enjoy learning and/or like learning in relation to solving challenging cases. The study shows that participants’ differences in motivation can be related to seniority and the type of hospitals physicians are employed in.