Research Article

Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs

Volume: 11 Number: 3 December 31, 2025
TR EN

Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate and compare motivation subscales among anatomy students from pharmacy, physiotherapy, and dentistry programs and to explore their influence on anatomy performance. Materials and Methods: A 31-item survey, the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), was administered to health profession students from dentistry, physiotherapy, and pharmacy programs. The questionnaire assessed goal orientation, task value, control of learning beliefs, self-efficacy, and test anxiety. Participation was voluntary. The study was conducted at XXX University during the 2023-2024 academic year, spring semester. Midterm and final grades were collected from anatomy courses to assess academic performance. The MSLQ was used to evaluate motivation subscales among students from Dentistry, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy. Academic performance was assessed using midterm and final grades, and correlations between motivation subscales and academic success were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 159 participants were included. Significant differences in motivation subscales were observed among students. Female students showed higher test anxiety, intrinsic goal orientation, and task value than male students. Physiotherapy students scored higher in motivational subscales, particularly in test anxiety, although these differences were not statistically significant. A weak positive correlation was found between motivation scores and academic performance, with higher self-efficacy and learning beliefs associated with better grades. Conclusion: Motivation subscales, including self-efficacy, goal orientation, and test anxiety, significantly impact academic performance in health profession students. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions could improve anatomy education outcomes.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None.

Ethical Statement

The ethical approval for this study was granted from the Kocaeli Health and Technology University Non‑invasive Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Project No: 2024-76).

Thanks

None.

References

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  3. Abdel Meguid EM, Khalil MK. Measuring medical students' motivation to learning anatomy by cadaveric dissection. Anat Sci Educ 2017;10(4):363-71.
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  6. Pintrich PR, Smith DA, Garcia T, McKeachie WJ. A Manual for the Use of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Technical Report No. 91-B-004. 1st ed. Ann Arbor, MI: The Regents of the University of Michigan; 1991. 75 p.
  7. Duncan TG, McKeachie WJ. The making of the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire. Educ Psychol 2005;40:117-28.
  8. Altun S, Erden M. Öğrenmede Motive Edici Stratejiler Ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Edu 2007;7(2):1-16.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Dentistry (Other), Medical Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 30, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 11, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 11 Number: 3

APA
Medişoğlu, M. S., & Öçbe, M. (2025). Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs. Aydın Dental Journal, 11(3), 245-253. https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM
AMA
1.Medişoğlu MS, Öçbe M. Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs. Aydin Dental Journal. 2025;11(3):245-253. https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM
Chicago
Medişoğlu, Mahmut Sabri, and Melisa Öçbe. 2025. “Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs”. Aydın Dental Journal 11 (3): 245-53. https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM.
EndNote
Medişoğlu MS, Öçbe M (December 1, 2025) Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs. Aydın Dental Journal 11 3 245–253.
IEEE
[1]M. S. Medişoğlu and M. Öçbe, “Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs”, Aydin Dental Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 245–253, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM
ISNAD
Medişoğlu, Mahmut Sabri - Öçbe, Melisa. “Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs”. Aydın Dental Journal 11/3 (December 1, 2025): 245-253. https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM.
JAMA
1.Medişoğlu MS, Öçbe M. Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs. Aydin Dental Journal. 2025;11:245–253.
MLA
Medişoğlu, Mahmut Sabri, and Melisa Öçbe. “Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs”. Aydın Dental Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 245-53, https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM.
Vancouver
1.Mahmut Sabri Medişoğlu, Melisa Öçbe. Motivation For Learning Anatomy Among Dental Students: A Comparative Study Across Health Profession Education Programs. Aydin Dental Journal [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;11(3):245-53. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA67MJ76LM

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