It is clear that the commitment to a career in the health care professions requires a large amount (or quantity) of motivation – but is there more we can do as educators, mentors and colleagues to better understand and address the impacts of the quality of motivation that we provide?

The so-called ‘Self- Determination Theory’ (SDT) has evolved through 30 years of empirical research into human behaviour. It looks at how we can support positive, sustained and ultimately self-endorsed motivation of (among others) students, patients, health care professionals and employees.
This year saw the 5th International Conference of SDT attended by over 500 delegates from 38 countries. They came together to share research and practical experience in understanding different qualities of motivation, and the subsequent behaviours they produce.
The framework provided by SDT can help us create environments for learning and practice that support both quality of care for patients and the well-being of clinicians.

In this HPHC workshop participants will be invited to:
- explore key principles that have emerged from the body of SDT research
- draw on their own experiences of education and practice to recognise features of “needs-supportive” environments in health care – with a particular focus on autonomy-support
- apply a pragmatic framework to accelerate and build upon existing techniques for engaging and motivating others