The reasons for the decrease in learning motivation of medical students in South Iran.

Background: Numerous studies have shown that the motivation of medical students has decreased. If we know what factors decrease motivation, we can predict and reinforce learning behaviors in medical students. This study aimed to explore and explain the reasons for the decrease in the motivation of medical students at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Materials and methods: A qualitative design based on the conventional content analysis approach was used. This study was conducted at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences in 2019-2021. Data were drawn from 24 semi-structured interviews with 52 medical students in the third year to seventh year. Purposeful sampling was performed. The average interview time was (53.42 ± 22.18) minutes. The 12 individual interviews and five focus group discussions (40 participants) were immediately verbatim and analyzed by the Colaizzi method by Max-Q (2014) data software.

Results: The mean age was (22/30 ± 2/16). The mean grade was (13.34 ± 1.28). After conducting 24 semi-structural interviews, 180 in vivo codes, 17 primary codes, six sub-categories, and two main categories were obtained. Two main categories consist of the Cultural and Socio-Economic Capital Damaged and Unmotivated Educational System.

Conclusion: Paying attention to the educational culture of the university and the economic, social, and cultural conditions of the society is necessary to improve students' lack of motivation.