Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 105, September - October, 2020
Trending career preferences of future dentists of Saudi Arabia and factors influencing their choices
Bahija Basheer1,2,3, Feras Aloushan1♦, Mamdouh AlHarbi1, Khalid AlHazmi1, Khaled Alhelal1, Abdullah Alanazi1, Sliuman Alnashwan1, Meshal Alsayed1, Yazeed Alrajeh1
1College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Feras Fahad Aloushan,
College of Dentistry,
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Phone: +966566110091
Email: Firas0566110091@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Aim: This study is intended to highlight the current career choices and the speciality preferences and the motivating factors of all 27
dental collages in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A questioner survey was collected as hard and soft copy among 364
participants who are Saudi dental students and Saudi dental interns. Results: a response rate of 86.9% (230) paper-based surveys and
289 electronic survey filled, of which 64.4% (315) are male and 35.6% females (174). The most preferred speciality among males is
Endodontics, Prosthodontics, and Orthodontics respectively. Whereas, females Restorative, Prosthodontics, and Orthodontics. As for
the motivational factors, employment benefits and guaranteed salaries were among the highest for males, and length of residency
for females. Discussion: previous studies have shown a different trend in speciality and career choices. However, the topic of
speciality is continuously changing. Moreover, the motivating factors are comparable with other studies. Conclusion: non-clinical
specialities were among the least preferred specialities. However, those specialities have a critical role in the dental field.
Employment benefits and short residencies may aid in more people choosing these specialities.
Keywords: Career preferences, Trending career, Future dentist, Saudi Arabia
Medical Science, 2020, 24(105), 3168-3176
