Factors influencing in-state students' decision to immediately enter private practice

Objective: There is limited information concerning career decision-making by dental students. This study explores the relationship of potential influences upon the decision to enter private practice immediately upon graduation from dental school. If predictive models can be developed, then this information may be useful for recruitment and placement purposes. Methods: A questionnaire, which included 24 topics, was distributed to first and second year University of Iowa dental students during the first week of the 2006-7 school year. Bivariate analysis was performed using chi-square statistic and Wilcoxon rank-sum for questions which had a 10-point Likert-like scale to ascertain differences between those who anticipated versus not anticipated entering private practice immediately after graduation. This component of the study is limited to Iowa high school graduates (110 of 152) who attended the University of Iowa. This in-state group was more likely to indicate their intent to enter into private practice immediately after graduation than those who attended high school outside of Iowa (p=.0154) Results: Sixty percent anticipate immediately entering private practice. However, only one variable, how strongly did you want to be a general dentist prior to entering dental school, demonstrated a difference (7.7 [1.8] v. 6.1 [2.5], p=.0006]) between the groups. Conclusions: From this limited group, only students' desire to become a general dentist was indicative of a decision to enter private practice immediately after dental school graduation. Supported, in part, by NIH/NIDCR T32 DE14678 grant.