4. Results Before analyzing the results, the column in the data Excel file indicating the students’ emails was deleted, to keep the data anonymous. As there is no loss of data or unanswered questions among all subjects, the data will be projected mainly in percentages. Out of 164 students 110 completed the online questionnaire with a response rate of 67.0 % and a mean age of 18.9( range 16-25). 63.6 % of the participants were females and 36.4 % were males. With regard to the curricula they studied; 61( 55.5 %) of the students completed Arabic high school curriculum and 27( 24 %) completed British curriculum( Table 1). The respondents’ ethnicity was uneven with the majority from Bahrain 20( 18.0 %) followed by Syrian and Iraqi 16( 14.4 %) and 15( 13.5 %) respectively( Figure 1). Figure 2 shows the respondents’ reasons for choosing dentistry as a career and level of importance. Of these,” Have interest to treat people & improve their oral health”( 73.6 %),“ Dental practice is a combination of hand skills and knowledge”( 66.4 %),“ Dental profession provides option to be self-employed”( 61.8) and“ Dentistry has high-level income of practice”( 60.0 %) were the predominant influences. A high percentage of the respondents thought the dental profession provides a flexible work schedule and adequate time to spend with the family( 52.7 %) and( 56.4 %) respectively. Half of the respondents thought dentistry is a prestigious profession. In 30 % of the respondents the dental career was chosen on a recommendation by friends or relatives. Many students( 42.7 %) thought pursuing dentistry would make the process of hunting a job much easier. A high percentage( 47.3 %) assumed that dentistry offers a short cut to the health care profession without need for further studies. A low percentage of respondents( 18.2 %) were admitted to dentistry as a second option after failing to obtain other programs. The motivation programs offered by the college marketing professionals during school time were important for 21.8 % of the respondents. Only( 4.5 %) of the students were influenced by their dentist parents in choosing the dental career.
Figure 1. Nationalities of the respondents
Table 1. Showing the frequency and percentages of students and the studied curricula at high school level
Curriculum |
n(%) |
American |
12( 10.9 %) |
Arabic |
61( 55.5 %) |
British |
27( 24.5 %) |
Canadian |
2( 1.8 %) |
British and American |
1( 0.9 %) |
Indian |
3( 2.7 %) |
International Baccalaureate |
1( 0.9 %) |
Kuwaiti |
1( 0.9 %) |
Persian |
2( 1.8 %) |
144 STOMA. EDUJ( 2016) 3( 2)