How to enhance professional motivation of medical students in the teaching-learning process of statistical content?

Abstract

Introduction:  Students´ lack of motivation in the teaching-learning process of statistical content is evidenced in the medical studies. This situation goes on negatively on their professional motivation since it has an effect on the quality of the health care services.
Objective:To encourage professional motivation of medical students in the teaching-learning process of the statistical content.
Material and methods: A pedagogical intervention was carried out in the University of Medical Sciences of Camaguey from September 2015 to July 2016.  For it, a sample composed of 105 students was selected directly, to whom both an individual interview and the composition technique were applied; later, different activities were involved in carrying out the work with all of them to finally apply a survey. The information obtained was processed automatically, and summary measures were used for descriptive statistics.
Results:A positive advance was observed in the students´ perceptions regarding the importance and need of learning statistical content for their future profession, as well as their interest in its use in different areas or fields of professional activity.
Conclusions:The implementation of integrating activities that link statistical content with interest, management and investigative work in the medical profession promotes professional motivation in medical students.

Keywords:  motivation, professional motivation, medical students, teaching-learning process, statistical content, Statistics.