Sociodemographic backgrounds and career decisions of Australian and New Zealand dental students

Authors

R. J. Marino
M. V. Morgan
T. Winning
W. Murray Thomson
R. I. Marshall
T. Gotjamanos
R. W. Evans

Year of Publication

2006

Source

Journal of Dental Education, 70(2), 169-178

Publication Type

Journal article (peer reviewed)

Publication Status

Completed

Abstract

Describes the sociodemographic and career selection characteristics of 672 Australian and New Zealand dental students. The survey covered age, language proficiency, type of school attended, place of residence, parental occupation, and level of education. The respondents had an average age of twenty-two years, with a range of eighteen to fifty. Fifty-six percent of respondents were female, and approximately half had completed secondary education in private schools. The majority of students lived with their parents, with only a few respondents reporting a rural home address (6.8 percent). The majority of students (65.3 percent) had placed dentistry as their first career choice and had most likely made the decision after leaving high school or near the end of high school (81.4 percent), with self-motivation being the major influence on their decision.

Type of Study

Qualitative, Quantitative, Survey

How to Access

Available in full-text at http://www.jdentaled.org/