Career and Career Aspiration Among Undergraduate Dental

Archives of Oral Sciences & Research
Career and Career Aspiration Among Undergraduate Dental Students in a
Dental College, Chennai.
R Pradeep Kumar,* Karunya Ravi †
Abstract:
Background: The main objective of this study is to identify and articulate the present
motives of dental students, factors influencing them to choose dentistry and their career
aspirations being educated from a private dental institution.
Materials and Methods: The present study was done on students pursuing Bachelors degree
(BDS) in dentistry in Saveetha Dental College, India, Chennai. The study population consists
of around 428 undergraduate students, selected using convenience sampling. Students who
are interested were included in the study. Structured questionnaire comprising of 10 questions
was formulated in English, which was filled by the respondents themselves and was
supervised by investigator. Data entry was carried out. The software SPSS version 15.0 was
used in data analysis.
Results: The response rate is 91.06%. In this study 48.13% of students chose dentistry of
their own interest, where as 25% due to unavailability of other desired course, 20% due to
their parent’s interest, 4.43% due to potential income and 1.86% due to peer pressure.
Majority of the students (60.28%) will recommend their friend to join dentistry while others
neglected. Most of them (83.4%) were interested in doing post graduation. Among various
subject, oral surgery (25.23%) was their prime interest followed by Orthodontics,
Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Pedodontics, Oral medicine. The least were Periodontics, Oral
pathology and Public health dentistry. Though the stress level was found to be relatively high
(86.44%) in dentistry, 74.76% never thought to quit the course.
Conclusion: The study concludes that there is increased interest towards dental profession by
students.
AOSR 2014;4(1);2-9
Key words: Reason for choosing; Career aspiration; Undergraduate dental students.
*M.D.S,
MSc, Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and
Hospital, Chennai.
†
B.D.S (CRRI), Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai.
INTRODUCTION
Depicting in a holistic approach, dental
last two decades. The huge market of dental
industry has emerged as an independent
industry in
field from general health care only in the
remarkable impact on the dental education.
2
India has also made a
Career aspiration of dental Undergraduates
There is a drastic increase in the dental
Various researches have been accomplished
colleges
across the globe3-10 and in India11,12
offering
various
courses
in
dentistry and number of dental graduates
specifically
qualifying is also increased proportionally.
professional perspective of dental students,
In India, though there is a wide scope for
but the results are not stable and linear.
dentistry due to increased population and
They seamlessly change with respect to
health hazards, the interest level of the
several factors like time, geographical
students in dentistry has declined in past
location, horizon of dental awareness,
few years due to several constraints like
influence of the new innovations and
reduced wages for emerging dentist, limited
technology, power of dental medicine and
seats
machinery, ethical values etc.5
availability
for
post
graduation
affecting their higher education. The mode
of admission into colleges is through a
common entrance exam for health care
educations and the order of preference of
the candidates is medical, followed by
dental and other paramedical courses.
on
career
choice
and
The main objective of this study is to
identify and articulate the motives of the
dental students, factors influencing them to
choose dentistry, their career aspirations
being
educated
from
private
dental
1
Dentistry has its unique hierarchy in society
institution.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
as a professional and inspirational health
care worker. Having said that, the choice of
dentistry as career could offer one the self
satisfaction of serving people, nobility,
prestige and respect in the ambiance,
Study area and population: The present
study was done on students pursuing
bachelor’s degree (B.D.S) in Saveetha
dental college and hospital.
professional growth and whole lot of
The college has been serving for more than
happiness.2
25 years in dentistry. Students from
3
R Pradeep Kumar & Karunya Ravi
different countries and places study here.
Approval from the authorities: The Study
The campus comprises of approximately
was conducted after obtaining the ethical
500 undergraduate students from first year
clearance
to interns.
Saveetha University, Chennai.
Inclusion Criteria: Students who are
Scheduling: The time period set for
willing were only included in the study.
collection of data from the students
Exclusion criteria: Students who are not
willing were not included in the study.
Pilot Study: A structured questionnaire
was framed to assess the career aspiration
of the undergraduate dental students and
was randomly distributed to 30 BDS
students in saveetha dental college and
from
ethical
committee
of
participating in this study is for a period of
2 weeks.
Performa:
A
structured
questionnaire
comprising of 10 questions was formulated
in English. The questionnaire was filled by
respondents themselves and was supervised
by an investigator.
hospital. The questions were pre-tested to
Statistical analysis: Data entry and data
assess the reliability and validity and
analysis
necessary modifications were made. These
completed filled questionnaire were taken
30 students were not included in the study.
for analysis.
was
carried
out
and
only
RESULTS
Sample size and sampling methodology:
Out of 500 students 30 were excluded as
The study population consisted of 428
they were in pilot study. Of remaining 470,
undergraduate students’ selected using Non
428 students showed complete response.
probability
The response rate was 91.06%. In the
sampling
Convenience sampling.
technique-
present study, 48.13% of undergraduate
students chose dentistry of their own
4
Career aspiration of dental Undergraduates
interest; where as 25% of them chose due
to unavailability of other desired courses,
20% due to their parents interest, 4.43%
due to potential income and only 1.86%
due to peer pressure. (Fig 1)
Fig 2: Recommend their friends to join dentistry
Fig 3 explains the students’ purpose of
choosing dentistry. It revealed that 28.03%
chose as it is a secure job, while 15.65%
chose to serve community, 14.25% to treat
Fig 1: Reason for choosing dentistry as career
disease, 13.37% for High income, 12.14%
for disease prevention and 10.25% for high
Fig 2 illustrates that 60.28% of students
status. The least is the interest in research
will recommend their friends to join
which is 8.17%.
dentistry especially because of good scope
due to new innovations and technologies in
this field while 39.71% neglected probably
due to increased stress, low salary for
emerging
dentist,
and
limited
seat
availability for further studies.
Fig 3: Students purpose of choosing dentistry.
5
R Pradeep Kumar & Karunya Ravi
Majority of the students (83.41%) were
Public health dentistry and Oral pathology
interested in doing post graduation. Though
which were 1.86% respectively. 34.34%
83.41% were interested in doing post
were not decided on their subject of interest
graduation, immediately after BDS only
in post graduation (Fig 5).
35.51% were sure of pursuing their master
degree, while 16.82% preferred running a
private clinic, 20.32% wanted to work in a
hospital, 3.97% wished to do public service
and 23.36% have not decided regarding
their future plans (Fig 4).
Fig 5:
Students Branch of interest in Post
Graduation
The stress level in dentistry (86.44%) was
found to be relatively high, this might
probably be due to mechanical, preclinical
and practical work involved along with
Fig 4: Future plans immediately after BDS.
theory (Fig 6).
Among various branches in dentistry, Oral
surgery (25.23%) was their prime interest,
followed
by
Prosthodontics
(6.77%),
Orthodontics
(7.71%),
Pedodontics
(12.61%),
Endodontics
(5.37%),
Oral
medicine (4.20%). It was found that there
was least area of interest in Periodontics,
6
Fig 6: Level of stress in dentistry.
Career aspiration of dental Undergraduates
Although 86.44% students agreed it is a
than other studies were only 53.71% and
stress full course, 74.76% students had
60% students were intended to do post
never thought to quit the course.
graduation. This might probably be due to
secure
DISSCUSION
job
opportunity
for
post
graduates.11,12
In present study the response rate was
91.06% which is higher when compared to
other studies conducted by Deepti Agarwal
in 2008
11
and B.K. Garla in 2011
12
which
had 78% and 86% respectively.
Investigating the motives of the dental
students, their career goals, assist to revise
the dental curriculum, better understanding
of the students’ aim in joining dentistry,
helping
This study shows that the primary reason
for students 48.13% choosing dentistry is
due to their own interest. This finding is
the
students
enhance
their
knowledge, distinguishing their career and
educational goals, as well as in recruitment
of the students.11
similar to other studies conducted in
Bhubaneswar 2011
12
and Mysore 2008. 11
25% had chosen due to unavailability of
other desired courses and were not aware of
the kind of work involved in dentistry.
Potential income and peer pressure were
the least, this is found to be in agreement
with studies conducted in India11,12 and not
in agreement with studies conducted in
Considering limitations of the study is also
important. The study was done using
convenient sampling method. The results
cannot be taken as the representative
sample of entire dental students in Chennai,
though it represents interesting views of
dental students from (Saveetha dental
college) a private dental college.
Brazil5, UK6 , Ireland7 and Peru.8 The study
It is recommended that career advice
revealed increased trend towards post
should be given to the students before their
graduation. 83.4% intended to do post
entry in to the profession as they are
graduation which is significantly greater
attracted towards dentistry for different
7
R Pradeep Kumar & Karunya Ravi
reasons and may not be aware of what
their career and also concludes that there is
actually they going to do; Career guidance
increased interest towards dental profession
should be given for graduates during and
by students in recent years.
after their degree so that it will shape their
future and allows them in making correct
decision on their field of interest in higher
education.
Further studies should be conducted in
large scale by selecting students randomly
from
different
universities
to
assess
generalization of current findings and to
evaluate
CONCLUSION
The study indicates that factors such as
own interest, job security, unavailability of
other desired courses, parents interest
whether
these
changes
are
adequate to develop a professional and
inspirational dental health care worker in
society.
influences the students to chose dentistry as
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CORRESPONDENCE
Dr. R. Pradeep Kumar, M.D.S, M.Sc.
Saveetha dental college and hospital
Chennai.
9
the