Oral Health and Dental Management

Post-graduate education preference among dental students and the factors affecting it

18^th Asia-Pacific Dental and Oral Care Congress

November 21-23, 2016 Melbourne, Australia

Aiman Sheikh1, Ahsan Ali, Saad, Faizan Javed, Syeda Anam Ali, Daud Sultan, Muhammad Wasay Latif Shaikh and Sonia Shahid

Karachi Medical and Dental College, Pakistan
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Pakistan
Ziauddin University Hospital, Pakistan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the preference of post-graduation field among dental students of Karachi, Pakistan; and the factors that are responsible for choosing the respective field. Introduction: Dentistry is one of the primary occupations that has proved to be an important pillar in improving the health care sector. In Pakistan, as a large number of students are now attracted to dentistry, more than 2400 dental students graduate from over 40 dental colleges annually. Out of which 810 students graduate from 13 different dental colleges of Karachi. Studies taking stock of the profile of the students yield important information for the planning of educational policies and strategies, and need of qualifying the faculty in order to solve the issues related to education. However, nothing is found valuable on the post-graduation preference of dental students. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried among students of dental colleges in Karachi, Pakistan in the duration of 6 months (Feb 2016July 2016). Convenience sampling was done with sample size 370. Inclusion criteria included 3rd and 4th year BDS students of dental colleges of Karachi. Exclusion criteria included students not given consent for study. SPSS version 16 was used for performance analysis. Data variables included age, gender, year of study, pursue post-graduation, specialty of post-graduation, type of post-graduation and reason for choosing the field. Results: Total 370 students were surveyed in which 84.59% were females and 15.41% were males, out of which 52.16% were in 3rd year and 47.84% were in 4th year of BDS program. Among 370 students, 80.32% will pursue post-graduation, 7.79% will not pursue and 11.89% have not decided yet. As a specialty of post-graduation, 35.14% chose oral and maxillofacial surgery, 21.65% orthodontics, 14.27% endodontics, 9.35% periodontics, 7.67% prosthodontics, 6.24% pediatrics and 5.68% restorative. For type of specialized degree, 51.62% chose FCPS, 19.73% MDS, 13.51% MCPS, 6.51% MSC, 4.63% MS and 4% MRCP. Reason for choosing particular field were 32.62% personal interest, 10.89% more income, 9.32% more scope, 8.98% less investment, 7.54% professional reputation, 7.27% less hours of practice, 6.84% early settlement, 6.29% intellectual content of specialty, 5.38% family background and 4.87% job security. Conclusion: In medical schools of Karachi, Pakistan, females are in greater number than males. More than half of the students will pursue post-graduation while there are very few who will not. The most chose specialty was oral and maxillofacial surgery and FCPS the most chose type of specialized degree. Almost one third of the students chose their specialty according to their personal interest and there are also other reasons for it.

Biography :

Aiman Sheikh is a third year BDS student of Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi Pakistan. She has been a part of many ongoing international researches and is also willing for further research work. Her research interests include pattern of cleft lip and palate and celiac diseases with tooth enamel defects. She has attended several national and international seminars and conferences.

Email: aiman_sheikh389@yahoo.com