Motivation to study dental professions in one London Dental Institute

TY - JOUR

T1 - Motivation to study dental professions in one London Dental Institute

AU - Belsi, A.

AU - Asimakopoulou, K.

AU - Donaldson, N.

AU - Gallagher, J.

PY - 2014/2

Y1 - 2014/2

N2 - Introduction While past research has explored dental students' motivation to study, there is limited understanding in the reasons behind career choice for hygienists/therapists and dental nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate simultaneously the views of students of dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing in King's College London and explore similarities or differences in career choice. Methods All first-year students were invited to the questionnaire survey, exploring motivation to study using a 23-item instrument. Data were analysed using SPSS v18; statistical analysis included one-way analyses of variance and factor analysis. Results The overall response rate to the study was 75% (n=209). Ten out of 23 factors were considered important by more than 80% of respondents, with job security' (93.8%), desire to work with people' (88%) and degree leading to recognised job' (87.5%) being top three. Analysis suggested that 52% of the total variation in motivating influences was explained by four factors: features of the job' (26%), education/skills' (11%), public service' (8%) and careers-advising' (7%); at group level features of the job' were significantly more important for the direct entrants to dentistry (P=0.001). Discussion The findings suggest that across groups students were motivated to study by common influences reflecting altruistic, but also pragmatic and realistic motives, while features of the job' were more important for the direct entrants to dentistry.

AB - Introduction While past research has explored dental students' motivation to study, there is limited understanding in the reasons behind career choice for hygienists/therapists and dental nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate simultaneously the views of students of dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing in King's College London and explore similarities or differences in career choice. Methods All first-year students were invited to the questionnaire survey, exploring motivation to study using a 23-item instrument. Data were analysed using SPSS v18; statistical analysis included one-way analyses of variance and factor analysis. Results The overall response rate to the study was 75% (n=209). Ten out of 23 factors were considered important by more than 80% of respondents, with job security' (93.8%), desire to work with people' (88%) and degree leading to recognised job' (87.5%) being top three. Analysis suggested that 52% of the total variation in motivating influences was explained by four factors: features of the job' (26%), education/skills' (11%), public service' (8%) and careers-advising' (7%); at group level features of the job' were significantly more important for the direct entrants to dentistry (P=0.001). Discussion The findings suggest that across groups students were motivated to study by common influences reflecting altruistic, but also pragmatic and realistic motives, while features of the job' were more important for the direct entrants to dentistry.

KW - motivation to study

KW - dental workforce

KW - dental teams

KW - CAREER CHOICE

KW - STUDENTS

KW - ATTITUDES

KW - DENTISTRY

U2 - 10.1111/eje.12052

DO - 10.1111/eje.12052

M3 - Article

SN - 1396-5883

VL - 18

SP - 24

EP - 30

JO - European Journal of Dental Education

JF - European Journal of Dental Education

IS - 1

ER -