Representations of the dental surgery profession and the motivations given by second‐year French students for applying for dental surgery

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the representations odontology students had of their career path. Second-year odontology students were questioned about their own motivations and the motivations they attributed to dentists in choosing this profession. The students were asked to complete a questionnaire during the first course and again after 5 months. It was thus possible to study the evolution of their motivations after 5 months of interactions with their fellow students and professors. Whether or not students were able to choose their career path following the selection examination at the end of the first year of the medical programme was an important variable in determining individual motivations and the motivations they attributed to dentists in choosing the dental profession. For example, students who were unable to choose their career path reported that they would like to work in the public health system, while those who were able to choose said they chose odontology as a vocation. The closing of the gap between the two groups during the period between the two questionnaires highlighted the increasing cohesion of the group. Beyond the differences between the motivations provided, this study showed that students who had not planned to become dentists before the selection examination needed some time to familiarise themselves with the situation and accept the change in their career path.