Motivations for studying dentistry and dental college preference among rakcods students

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to find out the reasons for choosing dentistry as future career and factors of preferring RAKCODS over other dental colleges in UAE.

Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire comprised of 19 items related to dental career and 6 items related to RAKCODS preference factors were sent electronically to the 1st year (2014-2015) and 2nd year (2013-2014) RAKCODS students. The responses on students’ motivation were collected using three-point ordinal scales. The data was analyzed using SPSS, v16 program. T-test and Chi-Square test were used to measure level of differences.

Results: The overall response rate was 67.0% (n=110). The mean age was 18.9 years. Females represented 63.6% and males 36.4% of the respondents. The important motives were “interest to treat people and improve their oral health” by 73.6%, “dental practice is a combination of hand skills and knowledge” by 66.4%, “dental profession provides option to be self-employed” by 61.8% and “dentistry has high-level income of practice” by 60%. Females showed significant difference to males in treatment of peoples and oral health care motive (p=0.022). Dentistry has high income and pays better motives were important factors by males more than females (p=0.033 and p< 0.001) respectively. The comparable curriculum to international standard and fascinating facilities were the most preferring factors of RAKCODS.

Conclusion: The motives towards dental career were mainly to improve peoples’ oral health, have high income and to be a self-employed professional. Curriculum and facilities were the most attracting factor of RAKCODS.