Factors Influencing Consideration of Dental Specialisation: A Survey of Current Dental Students at The University of Western Australia

Objectives: Dental specialists play a key role in maintaining clinical excellence and leadership in dentistry. As such, there is a continuing need to ensure dental students are well informed in their decision to pursue specialist training. As no current research on factors influencing dental specialisation in Australia has been conducted, this pilot study will serve as a pathway for future research in the field. Through provision of a questionnaire, the study will investigate student’s perceptions of dental specialities and factors impacting the pursuit of specialisation.
Methods: Questionnaires (n=65) were undertaken by third year DMD students (n=34), fourth year DMD (n=31) students and alumni students through paper and online means. An analysis was undertaken of the knowledge of speciality courses, speciality preferences and the main motivating and deterring factors influencing specialisation.
Results: A response rate of 70% was observed, revealing that 13% of combined cohorts (DMD3 and DMD4) correctly identified the speciality courses available in WA, with 6% of students wanting to specialise in the long term. Altruistic factors were the most motivating and financial the most deterring when considering specialisation. Speciality course preferences varied between cohorts, with Orthodontics (DMD3) and Maxillofacial Surgery (DMD4) being the first preferences. No responses were received from alumni students.
Conclusions: Findings highlight that whilst a small proportion of students want to pursue specialisation, the majority of students are unaware of the speciality courses available in WA. This emphasises the need for greater exposure and education in dental specialties. Further research is advised in this field to better understand factors involved in the pathway to dental specialisation and how to encourage specialisation.