Abdul Hamid Nor Faharina, Jaafar Azlan, Asming Nurshafikah Nazirah, Suria Nurul Syafiqah, Ho Ting Khee, Lim Zhi Yin Joan, Lim Tong Wah
Centre of Restorative Studies, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Department of Periodontology & Community Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Eur J Dent Educ. 2025 Feb;29(1):19-28. doi: 10.1111/eje.13044. Epub 2024 Sep 30.
This study aimed to analyse the impact of sociodemographic factors on dental school candidates' decision to pursue dentistry as their career of choice.
Candidates shortlisted by three dental schools were invited to participate in a self-administered questionnaire study, featuring a validated instrument containing sociodemographic questions and 16 motivational items grouped into four domains: economic, professional, vocational and personal background reasons. The variations in motivational item scores across sociodemographic factors were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test (age, sex, ethnicity, having relatives in the dental profession and dentistry as the first choice) and Kruskal-Wallis test (dental school and family income).
A total of 295 dental school candidates participated in the study (Universiti Teknologi MARA: 137; Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: 99; MAHSA University: 59). Approximately 95% of participants identified dentistry as their primary career choice, with the vocational motivation of 'I like to help people' being the most prominent motivational factor. Dental school emerged as the critical factor significantly influencing three quarters of the motivational items. Sex, ethnicity and having relatives in the dental profession were the remaining factors significantly associated with variations in certain motivational items. Both dental school and ethnicity significantly affected four motivational domains (economic, professional, vocational and personal background).
This study provides an insightful overview of the sociodemographic factors that impact career decision-making among prospective dental students. The scores for most motivational items varied among shortlisted candidates in three dental schools. The findings hold implications for policy development in dentistry by universities and public policymakers.
本研究旨在分析社会人口统计学因素对牙科专业报考者选择牙科作为职业的决定的影响。
邀请三所牙科学院入围的报考者参与一项自填式问卷调查研究，该问卷采用经过验证的工具，包含社会人口统计学问题以及16项动机性条目，这些条目分为四个领域：经济、专业、职业和个人背景原因。使用曼-惠特尼U检验（年龄、性别、种族、有从事牙科职业的亲属以及牙科为首选职业）和克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯检验（牙科学院和家庭收入）评估不同社会人口统计学因素下动机性条目得分的差异。
共有295名牙科学院报考者参与了本研究（马来西亚理科大学：137人；马来西亚国民大学：99人；玛莎大学：59人）。约95%的参与者将牙科确定为其主要职业选择，“我喜欢帮助他人”这一职业动机是最突出的动机因素。牙科学院成为显著影响四分之三动机性条目的关键因素。性别、种族以及有从事牙科职业的亲属是与某些动机性条目差异显著相关的其余因素。牙科学院和种族均显著影响四个动机领域（经济、专业、职业和个人背景）。
本研究对影响未来牙科学生职业决策的社会人口统计学因素进行了有深刻见解的概述。三所牙科学院入围报考者中，大多数动机性条目的得分存在差异。研究结果对大学和公共政策制定者在牙科领域的政策制定具有启示意义。
