Dental interns' study motivation and perception in formulating their specialty preferences in Bhubaneswar, Odisha: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Need to be constantly updated for professional and economic stability in today's competitive world has made a specialization in dentistry very essential. The aspirations and reasons for choosing a particular specialty for postgraduation contribute a lot for the future of that particular specialty. This study aims to identify the preference of specialty and the factors affecting the choice of specialty areas among dental graduates in a dental institution in Bhubaneswar, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in November 2014 on 43 interns in a dental college in Bhubaneswar. A 10-item close-ended questionnaire extracted information on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = extremely important to 1 = not at all important) pertaining to possible future career directions, choice of postgraduate specialization, and factors influencing them. Data collected was analyzed using the SPSS statistical package, version 17. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were sought. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The top ranked specialties for postgraduation were orthodontics 27.9% (n =12), endodontics 25.6% (n = 11), and oral surgery 18.6% (n = 8). Parental (86%, n = 37) and family (62.8%, n = 27) encouragement and support was recorded as the most important factor in the pursuance of postgraduation followed by encouragement from close friends (60.5%, n = 26) and mentor (51.2%, n = 22) by the interns. Conclusion: The knowledge of factors influencing the choice of postgraduation may help provide important information to aid in planning educational programs, set priorities, and plan for the provision of adequate health care.