1. 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)

2. 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).

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

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

9. 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%)

10. 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

11. RESULTS

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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:
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):