Motivation for a career in dentistry: the views of dental students in the United Arab Emirates

ObjectivesTo investigate final-year dental students' perceived motivation for choosing dentistry as a professional career at one dental school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MethodFinal-year dental students of Ajman University (n=87) completed a questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the data were undertaken using statistical software. ResultsA response rate of 82% (n=71) was achieved, 65% of whom were female. Students ranged from 21 to 29years 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). ConclusionStudents 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.