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Table 2 shows the ranking of factors that influenced the respondents to prefer RAKCODS over other dental colleges. Almost half of the students preferred the college because of the resemblance between the curriculum and the international standard followed by the fascinating building and availability of the facilities. Relatively low tuition fees were ranked as the third reason for choosing RAKCODS. About( 21 %) of the respondents accepted RAKCODS, as they could not secure a seat in the other dental colleges( rank 4).
Failure to be admitted to other programs, like Medicine Dentists do not need to deal with life threatening conditions
Worked in other dental related fields and now I want to be a dentist Dentistry is a prestigious profession
Motivation by marketing / dental professionals during high school There is not much“ on call” work for dentists
Dental practice is a combination of hand skills and knowledge
Dental career provides enough time to be with family Dentists have a flexible work schedule A career in dentistry offers job security
Developed interest from my family dentist Dentistry provides short cut to health care specialty
Dentistry has high-level income of practice Have interest to treat people & improve their oral health Dental profession provides option to be self-employed
Dentistry pays better than other job options available to me
It’ s easy for dentists to find work employment Because one of my parents is a dentist On recommendation of a friend / relative
Important Less important Not important
0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 %
Figure 2. Motivating influences by level of importance across respondent students: individual item( Y axis) and proportion of students selecting each item( X axis)( n = 110)
Table 2. Respondents’ reasons for choosing RAKCODS as institute to study dentistry
Factors
%
Rank
RAKCODS curriculum is comparable to international standard
48.2
First
RAKCODS has fascinating building and very good facilities
47.3
Second
Tuition fees are less than other dental colleges
27.3
Third
I could not get admission in other dental colleges in UAE
20.9
Fourth
Because RAK is my home( convenience)
10.0
Fifth
I was transferred from other dental colleges in UAE
3.6
Sixth
4.1. Statistical analysis The variables in( Figure 2) were given score 2 for important, 1 for less important and 0 for not important in a range between( 0-38). The score of dental career motivation factors was normally distributed with a mean of( 20.14) and SD( 6.433). This provides us with an idea about how likely our students were to consider being logic and confident in choosing the career as an important factor. From high possible expected score of 38 points, the students on average score 20 ± 1.2 as confidence Interval of their score factors. With respect to confidence as an important factor, we expected the highest possible score, namely 38 points, yet the average score the students got was 20 ± 1.2. This would locate the level of this chosen variable as an important factor in choosing this profession somewhere between 50 %-56 %. Generally, this indicates that the factor they chose was not based on logical assumption.

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