Dental graduates and dental student’s choice of specialties and factors influencing specialty training selection.

Abstract

Objectives: The goals of this study were to: 1) evaluate groups of dental graduates and dental student’s choice of postgraduate dental specialties selection, and 2) identify factors affecting their decision to pursue specialty training. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires. All participants were from the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Thammasart University, Srinakharinwirot University, and postgraduate applicants for the academic year 2014, Mahidol University. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic. Results: Total respondents were 567. Ninety-three, 86, 59, 50 and 279 were dental graduates from the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University in 2012, the sixth-year dental students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, the fifth-year students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasart University, the sixth-year students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Srinakharinwirot University, and postgraduate applicants for the academic year 2014, Mahidol University. Results showed that Mahidol University and the residency training programs were their first choice of postgraduate university and preferred program. The most preferred specialty was Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Most of respondents were not interested in a specialty training combined with a doctoral program but were interested in dual degree programs in collaboration with other international universities. Prosthodontics was the most preferred dual degree program. Reasons affecting postgraduate program selection were to gain more clinical skill, expand knowledge, get promotion at current workplaces, and to earn higher income, respectively. Fifty-three percent of the postgraduate applicants stated no financial difficulties regarding tuition fees. Conclusion: Mahidol University was the first choice for pursuing postgraduate dental education. Applicants considered clinical-training education to be the most important determinant in program selection. Applicants were interested in dual programs in collaboration with other international universities more than combined specialty training and a doctoral program. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, and Orthodontics were the most desired specialized programs.