| dc.description.abstract |
A number of factors have been cited as determinants for choosing a career in dentistry around the globe. (e purpose of this study
was to determine motivations for a career in dentistry among dental students and dental interns in Kenya. (is was a cross-sectional
study where 293 individuals participated by filling and returning self-administered questionnaires. (e mean age of all respondents
was 22.3 years. Overall, 59.5% of the respondents had selected dentistry as their preferred career at the end of high school. Majority
(76.1%) of the respondents agreed that personal interest in dentistry was an important motivating factor for them. (is was followed
closely by a desire to help or serve people (74%), a desire for a flexible work schedule (63%), and an aspiration to be self-employed
(61.8%). (ere was no difference between males and females regarding these as motivating factors. On the other hand, among factors
that the respondents felt had the lowest influence on their choice of dentistry was parental influence, where only 22% of the
respondents indicated that this was a motivating factor for them. Other potential motivating factors such as influence by friends and
siblings (30.3%) as well as career talk and guidance (41.3%) were also ranked low. In general, the respondents indicated that they were
motivated much more by personal and humanitarian factors, when compared to financial and societal factors |
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