SPECIALTY CHOICE AMONG UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN DENTAL STUDENTS Kanmodi K.K.1, Badru A.I.2, Akinloye A.G.3, Wegscheider W.A.4 1Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2Department of Anaesthesia, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria 3Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Osun State College of Technology, Nigeria 4Abteilung fur Zahnarztliche und Kieferchirugie, Medizinishe Universitat Graz, Osterreich (Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria)

BACKGROUND There exists a lopsided distribution of dental specialists in the Nigerian health care system (Arowojolu et al; 1997). Oral Surgery and Orthodontics attract many dental residency applicants, while other specialties (e.g. Prosthetic Dentistry) struggle with meager numbers (Isiekwe G et al; 2013).

AIMS To determine the most preferred dental specialties among the University of Ibadan (UI) dental students. To determine the factors that informed their choice of a dental specialty.

OBJECTIVES To explore the choices of dental specialties among the UI dental students. To explore the factors that informed their choice of any specialty.

PARTICIPANTS Only the dental students that have rotated through all the departments within the Dental Centre, University College Hospital (UCH) and Faculty of Dentistry, UI, were considered eligible to participate. Only the 35 final year students met the selection criteria

STUDY TOOL A three-sectioned questionnaire. Questionnaire obtained the following information from each participants: Biodata; Ranking of dental dental specialty based on choice; And factors that informed each participant’s choice of a dental specialty.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION Approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Ibadan, Nigeria

PILOT STUDY Conducted to pretest the study tool and research methodology Corrections were made after the pilot study

DATA COLLECTION Introduction of researcher to participants Participants were informed of the confidentiality of their information to be given Aims and objectives of study explained Verbal informed consent was obtained Only 27/35 final year dental students participated (response rate was 77.1%)

DATA ANALYSIS Data was cleaned Data was coded and entered into the SPSS version 16 software for analysis The mean, standard deviation (SD), and frequencies were used to describe the continuous variables Proportions were used to describe the categorical variables Observed differences (proportions) were compared using the Chi-square test, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant

RESULTS

RESULTS Figure 2: Bar chart showing the percentage distribution of specialty choices (in ranking) among respondents KEY CD= Community Dentistry; OMS= Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; ORT= Orthodontics; PERI=Periodontology; PROS= Prosthetic Dentistry; CONS= Conservative Dentistry; ORP= Oral Pathology; ORR= Oral Radiology; PD= Paediatric Dentistry.

INFLUENCING FACTORS MALE [N=13] FEMALE [N=14] X2 (P-value) Yes (%) No (%) Personal interest in the specialty 13 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 12 (85.7) 2 (14.3) 0.157 Job security/advancement prospects 8 (61.5) 5 (38.5) 5 (35.7) 9 (64.3) 0.180 Ease of entry into the residency program of the specialty 14 (100.0) *** Lifestyle and the job description 10 (76.9) 3 (23.1) 0.031 Prestige 7 (53.8) 6 (46.2) 0.001 Close relation with other specialties 0.152 Positive influence during the posting in the specialty 0.343 Opportunity to conduct research Flexibility with training 4 (28.6) 10 (71.4) 0.182 Amount of patient contact 1 (7.1) 13 (92.9) 0.050 Technically challenging specialty 2 (15.4) 11(84.6) 0.410 High wages 0.345 Opportunity for private practice 0.085 Easy compatibility with having a family 4 (30.8) 9 (69.2) 6 (42.9) 8 (57.1) 0.516 Inclination of specialty before entering dental school 1 (7.7) 12 (92.3) 0.163 A wide variety of caseload 0.557 Influence from a mentor 3 (21.4) 11 (78.6) 0.173 Enough time left for leisure activity Influence of family or relative 0.957 Other people’s perception of the job 0.290 Little on call commitment 11 (84.6) 0.496 Low risk of litigation 0.057 Gender distribution in the specialty Table 1: Comparison between gender distribution and factors influencing specialty choice among respondents

CONCLUSION The majority of the UI dental students want to specialize in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, or Oral Pathology because they are the specialties that appeal most to their personal interests. Work must be done in stimulating dental students’ interest in the least preferred specialties by changing dental students’ perceptions of certain specialties, building on their interests in job security and potential for private practice, and, particularly for female dentists, by increasing flexibility in dental residency programmes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I dedicate this research to God. I appreciate Dr Kristine Shields-the former Director, Risk Management and Business Process Lead at the Merck & Co. Inc, USA for the in-depth review of this research. I also appreciate my supervisor at Graz Dental School, Prof Dr Pitchelmayer M., for her recommendations. Many thanks to Drs Elma K. and Payer E., Mr Owadokun A.M. and Miss Familoni O.M. for their inspiration and support.

REFERENCES O.M. Arowojolu, G.A. Aderinokun, J.Y. Arotiba, O.O. Dosumu (1997). Choice of specialty training among Nigerian graduates. Odonto-Stomatol Tropicale. Vol 77: 21-24. Isiekwe G, Ashiwaju M, Olatosi O, Nwhator S.O. (2014). Predictors of postgraduate dental specialty training choice: the Nigerian experience. Int J Trop Disease 4(3):272-283.