Perceptions of dental students regarding dentistry, the job market and the public healthcare system.
The scope was to analyze the perceptions of dentistry students at the State University of Montes Claros, Brazil, regarding dentistry, the job market and the public healthcare system. For this, a triangulation method was employed, using a self-administered questionnaire and interviews. The quantitative data were submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis, using Poisson regression, where p<0.05. Content analysis was used for the qualitative data. The majority reported expecting to obtain work in the public healthcare system, stated that the dentistry course prepares students for this market as the curriculum integrates both teaching and service, reported being in favor of greater experience in the public healthcare system and said they would not take classes in Public Health if they were optional. Contact with the social context through teaching/service integration in the advanced semesters of the dentistry course appears to contribute to the development of new professional skills for working in the public sector. However, the students' perceptions revealed contradictions, considering the low value they attributed to the classes on Public Health and their perception of the public system as a residual job option.
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. smelocosta@gmail.com
Simone de Melo
Sde M
Costa
Marise Fagundes
MF
Silveira
Sarah Jane Alves
SJ
Durães
Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de
MH
Abreu
Paulo Rogério Ferreti
PR
Bonan
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D001938:Brazil; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003813:Dentistry; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017150:Public Sector; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult