Geleceğin Diş Hekimleri: Neden Bu Meslek?

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, Uşak Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi öğrencilerinin diş hekimliğini tercih nedenleri, mesleğe yönelik algıları ve gelecek beklentileri ile bunların demografik değişkenlerle ilişkisi değerlendirildi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu tanımlayıcı kesitsel çalışmaya 1–5. sınıfta öğrenim gören 470 öğrenci dahil edildi. Veriler, demografik bilgiler, meslek tercih nedenleri, mesleğe yönelik algılar ve gelecek beklentilerini içeren çevrim içi anketle toplandı. Örneklem büyüklüğü G*Power ile hesaplandı. Veriler SPSS programında analiz edildi; kategorik değişkenler Ki-kare testi ile değerlendirildi ve p<0,05 anlamlı kabul edildi. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %65,1'i kadın, %34,9'u erkekti. Meslek seçiminde en sık bildirilen nedenler ekonomik kazanç (%64,0), mesleki saygınlık (%56,0), ilgi/merak (%44,5) ve iş güvencesiydi (%43,2). Öğrencilerin %69,8'i diş hekimliğinin iyi gelir sağladığını düşünürken, yalnızca %28,5'i mezuniyet sonrası iş bulma konusunda kendini güvende hissetti. Psikolojik yük (%82,3) mesleğin en önemli zorluğu olarak belirtildi. Geleceğe yönelik en yaygın hedefler yüksek gelir (%73,6) ve akademik kariyerdi (%52,3). Meslek tercih nedenleri cinsiyet ve sınıf düzeyi ile anlamlı ilişki gösterdi (p<0,05). Sonuç: Diş hekimliği tercihinde ekonomik kazanç, mesleki saygınlık ve iş güvencesi belirleyici faktörlerdir. Buna karşın öğrenciler psikolojik yük ve istihdam konusunda kaygı taşımaktadır. İçsel motivasyonla meslek seçen öğrencilerin yeniden aynı mesleği tercih etme eğilimlerinin daha yüksek olması, kariyer seçiminde bireysel ilginin önemini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• diş hekimliği öğrencileri
• meslek seçimi
• kariyer motivasyonu
• diş hekimliği eğitimi
• mesleki beklentiler

Future Dentists: Why This Profession?

Öz

Aim: This study evaluated the reasons why students at Uşak University Faculty of Dentistry choose dentistry, their perceptions of the profession, future expectations, and the associations of these factors with gender, academic year, and having healthcare professionals in the family. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among first- to fifth-year dental students. Data were collected using an online questionnaire covering demographics, career choice, professional perceptions, and future expectations. Sample size was calculated with G*Power, and responses from 470 students were analyzed using SPSS. Associations between categorical variables were assessed with the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Results: Of the participants, 65.1% were female and 34.9% were male. The main reasons for choosing dentistry were economic income (64.0%), professional prestige (56.0%), interest/curiosity (44.5%), and job security (43.2%). Most students believed dentistry provides good financial income (69.8%), whereas only 28.5% felt confident about finding employment after graduation. Psychological burden was considered the greatest challenge (82.3%). High income (73.6%) and an academic career (52.3%) were the most common future goals. Significant associations were found between career choice motives and gender and academic year (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Economic income, professional prestige, and job security are the primary factors influencing students' choice of dentistry. Despite positive financial expectations, concerns about psychological burden and employment remain. Students motivated by intrinsic interest were more likely to choose dentistry again, emphasizing the importance of personal motivation in career decisions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• dental students
• career choice
• career motivation
• dental education
• professional expectations

Kaynakça

1. Gallagher J, Clarke W, Wilson N. Understanding the motivation: a qualitative study of dental students' choice of professional career. European Journal of Dental Education. 2008;12(2):89-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2008.00506.x
2. Halawany HS. Career motivations, perceptions of the future of dentistry and preferred dental specialties among Saudi dental students. The Open Dentistry Journal. 2014;8:129-135. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874210601408010129
3. Batyrbekova G, Çoban T, Hekimoğlu C, Yıldırım Pak D, Büke Şahin M, Güncü MB, Çakır B. Future expectations, career choices and related factors among dental students: a cross-sectional study. European Oral Research. 2022;56(2):88-95. https://doi.org/10.26650/eor.2022932541
4. Du Toit J, Jain S, Montalli V, Govender U. Dental students' motivations for their career choice: an international investigative report. Journal of Dental Education. 2014;78(4):605-613. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2014.78.4.tb05712.x
5. Gökay GD, Görürgöz C, Kılınç A. Effect of morality or capitalist ideology in choosing dentistry as a career in Türkiye: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education. 2024;24(1):274. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05275-8
6. Nazir MA. Factors influencing the choice of the dental profession among Saudi dental students and interns. Pakistan Journal of Public Health. 2024;14(2):83-88. https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v14i2.1317
7. Hannigan A, Hallissey J, Ray N, O'Dowling Keane S, Harrington M. Motivational factors for choosing dentistry as a career: A survey of undergraduate dental students in Ireland. Journal of the Irish Dental Association. Published online March 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.58541/001c.94409
8. Ndaki G, Owibingire SS, Sohal KS. Motivations for choosing dentistry as a career among dental students in Tanzania. Journal of Academy of Dental Education. 2023;8(2):51-55. https://doi.org/10.25259/JADE_32_2022

9. Haslach SD, Aytepe Z, Kokkari A, Azrak B, Ehlers V, Herz MM, et al. Country and gender differences in the motivation of dental students—An international comparison. European Journal of Dental Education. 2018;22(4):e724-e729. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12386
10. Waylen A, Barnes O, Kenyon P, Neville P. Can motivations for studying dentistry inform us about gender and BME differences in dental academic careers? British Dental Journal. 2017;222(1):13-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.22
11. Sezer B, Kolay D, Şen Yavuz B, Güneyligil Kazaz T, Kargül B. Motivations, attitudes for choosing dental profession and preferred dental specialties amongst Turkish dental students. European Journal of Dental Education. 2022;26(2):422-433. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12749
12. Dere KA, Karaca S. Diş Hekimliği Fakültesinde Okuyan Öğrencilerin Gelecekteki Kariyer Seçiminde Etkili Olan Faktörler ve Bunların Uzmanlık Alanı Seçimiyle Olan İlişkisinin Değerlendirilmesi: Kesitsel Bir Araştırma. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dental Sciences. 2024;30(4):537-548. https://doi.org/10.5336/dentalsci.2024-103519
13. Mohebbi SZ, Gholami M, Chegini M, Ghoreyshi Y, Gorter RC, Bahramian H. Impact of career choice motivation on academic burnout in senior dental students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education. 2021;21(1):52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02475-w
14. Nezir M, Kedıcı C. COVID-19 pandemi döneminde diş hekimliği fakültesi 4. ve 5. sınıf öğrencilerinin mesleki deneyimleri ile ilgili geribildirimlerinin değerlendirilmesi: anket çalışması. Selcuk Dental Journal. 2023;10(1):75-79. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1117864
15. Singh P, Aulak D, Mangat S, Aulak M. Systematic review: factors contributing to burnout in dentistry. Occupational Medicine. 2016;66(1):27-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqv119
16. Ríos-Santos JV, Reyes-Torres M, López-Jiménez A, Morillo-Velázquez JM, Bullón P. Burnout and depression among Spanish periodontology practitioners. Medicina Oral, Patología Oral y Cirugía Bucal. 2010;15(5):e813-e819. https://doi.org/10.4317/medoral.15.e813
17. Kobza J, Syrkiewicz-Świtała M. Job satisfaction and its related factors among dentists: a cross-sectional study. Work. 2018;60(3):357-363. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-182749
18. Molina-Hernández J, Fernández-Estevan L, Montero J, González-García L. Work environment, job satisfaction and burnout among Spanish dentists: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01480-9