Identifying and Explaining the Motivational Keys for Physicians' Teaching: A Synthesis Study

Abstract

Background: Understanding factors that shape physicians’ motivation to teach is essential for optimizing educational outcomes in medical education. This research aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence to uncover how individual, interpersonal, cultural, and structural elements influence teaching engagement among physicians. Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis of 26 peer-reviewed articles was performed using a three-phase thematic synthesis approach (data extraction and coding, thematic grouping, and abstraction). Studies were identified via a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and Google Scholar for publications in English or Persian from 2000 onwards. Articles focusing on clinical physicians’ teaching motivation and available in full text were included, whereas non-research formats and studies on other professionals were excluded. Methodological quality was ascertained using the CASP checklist to ensure rigor and transparency. Results: The synthesis yielded five interrelated themes: i) personal characteristics, ii) student-related factors, iii) cultural and social values, iv) organizational and managerial influences, and v) educational structural conditions. Among these, personal characteristics including intrinsic motivation, pedagogical commitment, and altruistic values emerged as the most prominent drivers of teaching motivation. Further, students’ performance and feedback, societal appreciation for educators, as well as institutional leadership and reward systems were identified as reinforcing elements. Conclusion: Physicians’ motivation to teach is a dynamic construct influenced by a complex interplay of personal, cultural, and institutional factors. Establishing academic environments that foster growth, recognize contributions, and implement supportive policies is critical for sustaining teaching motivation. These insights can inform targeted interventions and policy reforms aimed at strengthening the educational mission of medical institutions.