Students' motivating influences for selecting dental hygiene and a 4-year degree: A retrospective study

Unveiling motives for dentistry studies: psychometric validation of a comprehensive questionnaire among aspiring dental students

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to develop and validate a questionnaire for dental students in Ecuador to assess their reasons to study dentistry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 25-item questionnaire was developed by the authors based on similar studies and a qualitative study. The questionnaire had five theoretical factors: economic, professional, vocational, social and academic reasons for study. In the first two samples, exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify the structure, and the models obtained were compared with confirmatory factor analysis in the third sample.

RESULTS

Three samples were used, sample A with 201 participants, sample B with 623 participants, and sample C with 596 participants. Two-thirds of the participants were female and almost one-third were from coast region. The EFA applied in sample A resulted in a five-factor model with 18 items; in contrast, a three-factor model was obtained from sample B. According to the CFA in sample C, the best model was explained by three factors: labor, vocational and academic reasons. Considering two items to cross-load in labor and vocational factors, which are theoretically justified.

CONCLUSION

This study presents a 12-item questionnaire that assesses labor, vocational and academic reasons for studying dentistry in an Ecuadorian population.

Career outcomes and satisfaction among graduates of a 4-year oral health and welfare baccalaureate program at Niigata University, Japan: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Globally, baccalaureate programs in dental hygiene are increasingly established. In addition, in Japan, many dental hygienists (DHs) and social workers (SWs) are prematurely leaving the workforce. This study aimed to investigate the most recent employment, career outcomes, reasons for a job change, and satisfaction with the job and undergraduate curriculum among graduates of the baccalaureate program at the Department of Oral Health and Welfare (DOHW), Faculty of Dentistry, Niigata University.

METHODS

All 262 graduates (graduating classes 1-10) of the DOHW were invited to participate in this survey; an original self-administered questionnaire was distributed to those who consented. Responses were received from 114 (43.5%) graduates.

RESULTS

Almost all respondents (89.5%) had dual licensure as both DH and certified SW. They were employed immediately after graduation (99.1%) and at the time of the survey (96.5%). Over 60% of them worked as DHs, mainly in hospitals. SWs mainly worked in administration. Among the 113 respondents who were employed, 39.8% changed jobs at least once. The main reasons for job selection were 'interest in job content' and 'flexible working hours'. Nearly 90% of the respondents felt satisfied or fairly satisfied with their job and their undergraduate education.

CONCLUSIONS

A quality 4-year baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene and social welfare positively influenced graduates' work continuity. Most graduates felt satisfied or fairly satisfied with their job and the undergraduate curriculum. Employment rates within each profession and the prevalence of hospital and administrative roles were higher than national averages. Long-term studies of graduates' career outcomes are warranted.

Dental hygiene student attitudes about benefits of baccalaureate degree and factors impacting entry-level program choice

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

Although the bachelor's degree is the entry-level degree option supported by the American Dental Hygienists' Association, the majority of dental hygiene programs remain associate degree. The aim of this study was to explore factors impacting entry-level program choice and examine attitudes and perceptions of dental hygiene students pertaining to a bachelor's degree (BS) as the entry-level degree.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey research design was utilized with a convenience sample of dental hygiene students (n = 429) from the United States and Canada. The 33-item survey had four sections: demographics, factors influencing program choice, attitudes, and perceptions of a BS. Descriptive and inferential analysis was used to explore the relationship between variables.

RESULTS

The completion rate was 91% (n = 384). Factors that most influenced program choice included: location (74%), cost (68%), and time to completion (47.7%). Students with mothers who graduated from college were more likely to rank time to completion as their number one factor (37%) (χ2[df2] = 19.6, p < 0.001, phi = 0.33). Students in bachelor's programs were significantly more likely to believe a bachelor's degree better prepared clinicians for duties required in future practice and that the entry-level degree should be raised to a bachelor's degree (p < 0.001). While more students in associate degree program agreed there were opportunities in education without a bachelor's degree (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cost, time to completion, and location were the factors influencing students' program choice. While the dental hygiene profession advocates raising the entry-level degree to a bachelor's programs, less than 40% of dental hygiene students supported this change.