Evaluation of Specialization Preferences of Faculty of Dentistry Students

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the post-graduation specialty education preferences of 3rd and 5th year dentistry students and the factors that motivate these preferences. Materials and Methods: This survey was applied to students of Selçuk University Faculty of Dentistry. A total of 207 students, 104 3rd grade and 103 5th grade students, participated in the study. Two different response types were used in the study: multiple choice and linear scale (1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=undecided, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree). A survey form was applied to the students via Google Forms. Results: While 3rd graders are mostly undecided about whether their undergraduate education should focus on DSE (48.1%), 5th graders think that undergraduate education (62.1%) is not aimed at DSE. In both grades, the rate of those who find it necessary to attend private teaching institutions is high. When choosing a department, 3rd-grade students (29.8%) mostly prefer Orthodontics; 5th graders (32%) chose Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. While the 5th-grade students said they would prefer a faculty different from their own for specialization training, most 3rd-grade students were undecided. However, both grades stated that the department was more effective in determining their training specialty preferences than the city and university. Conclusion: Clinical internship training has an essential place in post-graduation career planning. Department preferences of 3rd and 5th-grade students in their specialization education differ. For both the 3rd and 5th grades, the department was more effective in determining their specialty training preferences than the city and university.

Keywords

• Dental students' choice
• Specialization in dentistry
• Undergraduate education in dentistry

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