Acta Scientific Dental Sciences

Research Article Volume 1 Issue 3

Reason for Choosing Dentistry as Career among Male Dental Students in Ajman University

Ali MH Montazeri and Ibrahim K AL-Marzok*

Professor, Department of restorative Dentistry, college of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirate

*Corresponding Author: Ibrahim K AL-Marzok, Professor, Department of restorative Dentistry, college of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirate.

Received: May 13, 2017; Published: August 03, 2017

Citation: Ali MH Montazeri and Ibrahim K AL-Marzok. “Reason for Choosing Dentistry as Career among Male Dental Students in Ajman University”. Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 1.3 (2017).

Abstract

  This is a cross-sectional study to investigate the reasons for choosing dentistry as a career by male dental students in Ajman University. The method adopted was an anonymous questioner consisted of 22 questions, each containing a statement, which require the respondent to choose YES or NO. 150 male students randomly selected from 1st year up to 5st year. The top four reasons for choosing dentistry as a career were, prestige (95.3%), self-employment (93.3%), autonomy (90%), and helping people (90%) as well. A significate difference was found regarding autonomy as a reason, in respondents whom their parents are doctors (p = 0.022). A significant difference found also between students who are in 4st and 5st years (attending clinics) chose “prestige” and “more regular hours than other professions”.

Keywords: Dentistry; Career; Dental Students

Introduction

  Dentists occupy an important role in society as professional health care workers [1]. The opportunity to participate in dental education in many countries, especially in the developing ones, is limited to a small percentage of the community [2]. These situations place great responsibility on faculties of dentistry or dental schools to select the most suitable applicants, both professionally and socially, for the ultimate benefit of the communities [3-5]. Before advisors can plan to attract individuals to dentistry, they must study the underlying reasons that either males or females have to come into dentistry, what satisfaction they hope to gain from its practice and what it means in their career lives. It has been also suggested that having an insight into the motivations of those contemplating dental studies may assist in the evaluation of dental education plan [5-7] and a better understanding of students’ reasons for entering the dental profession may facilitate a fruitful interaction between student and teacher [2]. Motives for choosing a career are complex and the choice of dentistry as a career is no exception. Motivations for choosing dentistry had been studied in many countries. A range of reasons have been mentioned including status and security, the nature of the occupation, patient care and working with people [8]. Most of the research investigating reasons for choosing dentistry as a career has been carried out in developed countries [9-12]. In Ajman University, college of dentistry the acceptance of students depends upon their performance in high school, students with highest marks only enrolled to limited available seats. During their classes, male and female students are traditionally segregated.

Aim of the Study

   The aim of this investigation was to determine motivations for choosing dentistry as a career by male dental students in Ajman University during the academic year 2013 - 2014.

Materials and Methods

   This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate reasons for choosing dentistry as a career in male students in Ajman University, UAE. The method adopted was an anonymous questionnaire distributed by the authors to students from years 1 to 5 at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Ajman. Ethical approval was granted by the University of Ajman and participant information sheet/ consent form was taken from each student. Each student completed a questionnaire following brief information about the study and the questionnaire was retrieved maximum in two days. Our sample was 150 students that selected randomly from 1st to 5st year.

   The questionnaire consisted of 22 items with each item on the questionnaire containing a statement which required the respondent to indicate YES or NO. All data management and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 16.0 windows version (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). Age and year of study were described by mean and standard deviation. Non-parametric data analysis with X2 test to compare statistical differences between groups. A 5% level of significance was used for all tests (P < 0.05).

Results

   150 male students were fill the questionnaire form. Mean of students age was 21.48 ± 2.48 years old (18.0 - 34.0). Mean of year spend in University was 3.19 ± 1.56 years (1.0 - 9.0).

   Figure 1 show the reasons for choosing dentistry as a career among the participants, it shows that the top four reasons for choosing dentistry as a career are prestige (95.3%), self-employed (93.3%), autonomy (90%), and helping people (90%).

Figure 1:
 </strong>    The reasons for choosing dentistry as a career.

Figure 1: The reasons for choosing dentistry as a career.

   Figure 2 shows the number of recruited student in each year, while parent’s occupation of participant is shown in Figure 3.

 Figure 2: 
 </strong>  Recruited student’s number in each year.

Figure 2: Parents’ occupation of recruited students.

 Figure 3: 
 </strong>  Recruited student’s number in each year.

Figure 3: Parents’ occupation of recruited students.

   Figure 4 show the top four reasons to choosing dentistry as a career in relation to parent’s occupation.

 Figure 4: 
 </strong>  The top four reasons to choosing dentistry as a
career in relation to parent’s occupation.

Figure 4: The top four reasons to choosing dentistry as a career in relation to parent’s occupation.

   The comparison of top four reasons among students based on parent’s occupation is shown in Table 1.

Parent’s occupation/ reason Prestigious Self-employed Helping People autonomy
Doctors 30 (93.8%) 31 (96.9%) 29 (90.6%) 32 (100%)
Engineers 23 (95.8%) 23 (95.8%) 21 (87.5%) 23 (95.8%)
Business 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 32 (91.4%) 33 (94.3%)
Others 55 (93.2%) 51 (84.6%) 53 (89.8%) 47 (79.7%)
Total 143 (95.3%) 140 (93.3%) 135 (90%) 135 (90%)
Statistical analysis X2 = 2.23
P = 0.149
X2 = 3.26
P = 0.064
X2 = 0.104
P = 0.519
X2 = 4.52
P = 0.022

Table 1: Comparison of top 4 reasons among students based on parent’s occupation.
There was a significant difference in choosing “autonomy” as a reason in students who their parents are Doctors (P = 0.022).

   There was a significant difference in choosing “autonomy” as a reason in recruited students who their parents are doctor (p = 0.022), and there was a significant difference also in choosing “working with own hands” as a reason in participant who their parents are doctor, engineer and business (p = 0.016). When we subdivide the students into two groups:
• Who are in preclinical and theoretical courses (1st to 3rd year).
• Who are attending clinics (4th and 5th year).

   The comparison of top four reasons of choosing dentistry as a career and pre-clinical and clinical stage of the study of dentistry are shown in Table 2.

Clinical experience/ top reason Prestigious Self-employed Helping People autonomy
No clinical experience 92 (95.8%) 89 (92.7%) 90 (93.8%) 85 (88.5%)
clinical experience 51 (94.4%) 51 (94.4%) 45 (83.3%) 50 (92.6%)
Total 143 (95.3%) 140 (93.3%) 135 (90%) 135 (90%)
Statistical analysis X2 = 0.15
P = 0.703
X2 = 0.167
P = 1.0
X2 = 4.16
P = 0.05
X2 = 0.63
P = 0.57

Table 2: Comparison of top 4 reasons among students based on pre-clinic or clinic status.
There was a significant difference in choosing “helping people” between 2 groups (P = 0.05)

   There was a significant difference in choosing” helping people” between the two groups (p = 0.0.5). The recruited students who attending clinics choose “prestige” (94.4%) more than those who are not (79.2%), the difference is significant statistically (p - 0.017). regarding “more regular hours than other professions”, a similar finding was found (83.3% vs 55.2%, p - 0.001).

   Family profession, family persuasion and heard about dentistry in high school were chosen more frequently by pre-clinical students (72.9% vs 51.9%, 63.5% vs 29.6% and 58.3% vs 38.9% respectively).

Discussion

   The purpose of this study was to obtain information about the reasons for choosing dentistry as a career by male students of dentistry in Ajman University. It shows that, the top four reasons for choosing dentistry as a career were “prestigious” (95.3 %), “Self-employed” (93.3%), “Autonomy” (90%) and “helping people” (90%). These finding are similar to Al-Bitar findings in Jordan that ‘Prestigious’ was given a maximum score by the majority (44%) of the students. This differs significantly when compared with previous studies. Six per cent of dental students in the UK [8] and 0.9% in Denmark [1] agreed with the statement that a prestigious social standing was the motivation for their choice of career. Dental students in the US reported that “Prestigious” was the least important factor in their decision to study dentistry [4]. An investigation of first-year dental students in the University of Sydney in Australia found that a ‘prestigious profession’ ranked seventh as a motivation for choosing dentistry in those who chose dentistry as their first choice of career [11]. Scarbez and Ross [13] noted that self-employment and business- related motives were frequently cited by dental students. A study in the US found that autonomy, self-employment and working with people were the most important motives for choosing dentistry as a career [14]. Altruistic motives (helping people) were found to be important in dental students in Denmark [1] and the UK [4] and ranked second as a motivation for choosing dentistry in Australian dental students [11]. Similarly, 43.6% of dental students in Al- bitar study gave ‘helping people’ a maximum score as a motivating factor in their choice of a career [9]. Regarding parent’s occupation, a significant difference in choosing “autonomy” as a reason in recruited students who their parents are Doctors was found (P = 0.022). There were no significant differences in other reasons. In this study, the participants were divided into two sub categories: the students who are in Preclinic and theoretical course (1st to 3rd year). The students who are in Clinic (4st and 5st year). The comparison of four top reasons among students based on pre-clinic or clinic status, Perceptions of dental students during their course of study showed a change. The students who are in clinical status choosing “prestigious” and “more regular hours than other professions” more than pre-clinical students significantly (P = 0.017, P = 0.001, respectively). This can be explained by a more realistic perception of the career as the students gain knowledge of the practical aspects of employment opportunities and job stresses. Similar observations were reported in a study carried out comparing accepted applicants and final year dental students in the UK [15]. The “family profession”, “family persuasion” and “heard about it in high school” were choose more frequently by pre-clinic students versus 4st and 5st year students.

Conclusion

  ‘Prestigious’, self-employed’, autonomy’ and ‘helping people’ were found to be important motivating factors in this group of dental students in Ajman University. It may be a good idea to establish career education programs in schools to educate students on their career choices and employment opportunities following graduation.

Conflict of Interest

  None to declare.

Bibliography

  1. Vigild M and Schwarz E. “Characteristics and study motivation of Danish dental students in a longitudinal perspective”. European Journal of Dental Education 5.3 (2001): 127-133.
  2. Zadik D., et al. “Choice of dentistry as a career and perception of the profession”. Journal of Dental Education 61.10 (1997): 813-816.
  3. Hussey DL., et al. “Characteristics of dental students in Ontario and Northern Ireland”. Journal of the Irish Dental Association 36.4 (1990): 133-135.
  4. Morris S. “What kind of people want to become dentists? General Dental Council Recruitment Working Party survey of first year undergraduate dental students”. British Dental Journal 173.4 (1992): 143-144.
  5. “Aspiring dental students”. British Dental Journal 72.11 (1992): 393.
  6. Sivaneswaran S and Barnard PD. “Some social characteristics and background of first-year dental students, University of Sydney, 1976-1985”. Australian Dental Journal 37.5 (1992): 378-385.
  7. Morganstein S and Langdon JD. “Aspiring dental students”. British Dental Journal 173.5 (1992): 157.
  8. Crossley ML and Mubarik A. “A comparative investigation of dental and medical student’s motivation towards career choice”. British Dental Journal 193.8 (2002): 471-473.
  9. Al-Bitar ZB., et al. “Reasons for choosing dentistry as a career by Arab dental students”. European Journal of Dental Education 12.4 (2008): 247-251.
  10. Hallissey J., et al. “Reasons for choosing dentistry as a career--a survey of dental students attending a dental school in Ireland during 1998-99” European Journal of Dental Education 4.2 (2000): 77-81.
  11. Gietzelt D. “Social profile of first-year dentistry students at the University of Sydney”. Australian Dental Journal 42.4 (1997):259-266.
  12. Jover M., et al. “Representations of the dental surgery profession and the motivations given by second-year French students for applying for dental surgery”. European Journal of Dental Education 10.1 (2006): 2-9.
  13. Scarbecz M and Ross J. “A Gender differences in first-year dental students’ motivation to attend dental school”. Journal of Dental Education 66.8 (2002): 952-961.
  14. Rice CD., et al. “Career choice and occupational perception in accelerated option and traditional dental students”. Journal of Dental Education 63(4) (1999): 354-358.
  15. Skelly AM and Fleming GJP. “Perceptions of a dental career among successful applicants for dentistry compared with those of fifth-year dental students”. Primary Dental Care UK 9.2 (2002): 41-46.

Copyright: © 2017 Ali MH Montazeri and Ibrahim K AL-Marzok. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.



News and Events


  • Certification for Review
    Acta Scientific certifies the Editors/reviewers for their review done towards the assigned articles of the respective journals.

Contact US









ff

© 2024 Acta Scientific, All rights reserved.