Final-Year Dental Undergraduate Attitudes towards Specialisation.

James Puryer,Veselina Kostova,Alisa Kouznetsova

doi:10.3390/dj4030026

James Puryer, Veselina Kostova + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/dj4030026

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Journal: Dentistry journal	Publication Date: Aug 10, 2016
Citations: 39	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University Of Bristol Dental Hospital

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes towards postgraduate specialisation of final-year students at one UK dental school and to identify any possible influencing factors. A cross-sectional survey of all 73 final-year students using an anonymous self-report questionnaire was carried out. The response rate was 79%, of which nearly two-thirds were female. Age, ethnicity and parental occupation did not have an effect on the intention to specialise, although student gender did, with more females not wishing to specialise (p = 0.006). Having a ‘talent in the field’ had the largest positive influence on pursuing a specialist career (37.9% of responses), whilst the length of time needed to obtain a specialist qualification was seen as the largest negative influence (41.1% of responses). The two most popular subjects were Restorative Dentistry and Orthodontics with 24.1% and 20.7% of students listing them as their first choices, respectively. Further research could be carried out to determine if the intentions of UK undergraduates to specialise will meet the increasing specialist oral health needs of the population and which could ultimately influence future dental workforce planning.

Highlights

IntroductionThere are many avenues for career development open to them
In the United Kingdom (UK), dental undergraduates undergo a 5-year programme of study at one of 17 dental schools which, upon successful completion, allows them to register with the General
This study reports the attitudes towards postgraduate specialisation among final year undergraduate dental students with respect to their gender, ethnic group and parental occupation

Summary

Introduction

There are many avenues for career development open to them This will involve returning to an academic institution or hospital-based unit in order to gain further knowledge and skills within a specialist area of dentistry. This can lead to further registrable qualifications and eventual recognition by the General. Dental Council (GDC) through the specialist list. There are approximately 41,000 dentists on the UK register [2] with just over 10% of them being on a specialist list.

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