Motivation for a career in dentistry: the views of dental students in the United Arab Emirates.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate final-year dental students' perceived motivation for choosing dentistry as a professional career at one dental school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).


METHODS
Final-year dental students of Ajman University (n = 87) completed a questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the data were undertaken using statistical software.


RESULTS
A response rate of 82% (n = 71) was achieved, 65% of whom were female. Students ranged from 21 to 29 years of age. Motivation to study dentistry was led by a 'desire to work in health care' (93%), 'wish to provide a public service' (88.7%) and because 'degree leads to a recognised job' (84.5%). Males were significantly more likely to report 'high income' (84% vs. 67%; P = 0.01) and females 'influence of family' (80% vs. 60%; P = 0.02) as motivating influences. The reliability and internal consistency of the instrument as calculated by Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. Eight factors explaining the 71% of the variation were: 'professional job factors' (11.7%), 'experience and advice' (9.8%), 'business and financial with independence' (9.7%), 'careers, advice and possibilities' (8.9%), 'knowledge and job security' (8.8%), 'health care, people and public service' (8%), 'family and friends' (7.2%) and 'career in dentistry' (6.9%). Gender was a significant predictor of 'business and financial' factor (b = -0.76; P = 0.003) and age for 'careers in dentistry' (b = -0.18; P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Students are motivated by a wide range of factors similar to those found in other studies; however, business features and family influences were significantly associated with gender.
Al Dhaid Hospital, Sharjah Medical District, Ministry of Health, Sharjah, UAE.
Hazim
H
Rashid
Andiappan
A
Manoharan
Salem
S
Abufanas
Jennifer Elizabeth
JE
Gallagher
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002321:Career Choice; D003813:Dentistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D055815:Young Adult
Dental student; dental school; motivation; professional career