[Strength of academic motivation among medical students in the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse (Tunisia)].

Introduction: Motivation is an important component of learning. It remains a complex phenomenon to explore, largely influenced by multiple external and internal factors. It is important to measure the strength of student motivation in a long training course such as medical studies and its influencing factors.

Aim: to measure strength of motivation among medical students the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse (FMS).

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical students enrolled at the FMS during the 2021/2022 academic year for 3 months using a questionnaire based on a validated scale: Strength of Motivation for Medical School-Revised (SMMS-R).

Results: A total of 185 students participated in the study. The mean age was 20.97 ± 1.8 years. The sex ratio was 0.34. The SMMS-R score was 55[47-63]. This score was higher international students (p=0.029), students who chose medical studies before passing the baccalaureate (p<10-3) and students satisfied with their choice of medical studies (p<10-3).

Conclusion: Our results revealed a strong association between students' satisfaction and motivation. Thus, the learning environment, governed mainly by institutional rules, educational activities and evaluative practices, greatly influences satisfaction and therefore motivation of medical students.