Predictors of Postgraduate Dental Specialty Training Choice: The Nigerian Experience
Gerald Isiekwe
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Modupeoluwa Ashiwaju
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Olubukola Olatosi
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Solomon Olusegun Nwhator *
Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Nigeria and Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of this study are three-fold. First, to highlight areas of shortage in postgraduate dental education in Nigeria, secondly to propose the introduction of dental advisors into our postgraduate dental training and thirdly, to propose a model that could aid such dental advisors in predicting postgraduate dental training choice among Nigerian dental graduates. It is hoped that such a model would have enough predictive powers to aid would-be dental advisors in guiding fresh dental graduates aright in their choice of postgraduate dental training.
Methods: Participants were dentists attending compulsory continuing professional development events at different centres across Nigeria. Graded Likert responses of 16 potential predictors of dental postgraduate training choice were obtained through self-administered questionnaires filled by 112 Nigerian dentists (mean age of 35.21 years ± 8.21). Data were analyzed after necessary recodes to allow for meaningful statistical analysis. The predictive power of each factor was determined by inter-specialty and intra-specialty comparisons.
Results: A total of 51 males and 61 females participated in the study with predictors rated from 2.29 ± 1.23 to 4.09 ± 1.04.
Diagnostic challenge strongly predicted a choice of Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Affluence and income jointly predicted choices of orthodontics and restorative dentistry while the female gender predicted a choice of pediatric dentistry. (P=<0.001). Work-life balance influenced a choice of preventive dentistry-related specialties in combination with other factors. Periodontology had several unique predictors.
Conclusions: Income, work hours, private practice opportunity and affluence were stronger predictors than skills and course content in this study. There's a gradual shift from an oral surgery predilection to restorative dentistry. A female predilection for pediatric dentistry and male predilection for oral surgery persist.
Endangered specialties like periodontics, prosthodontics justify a call office of postgraduate dental advisors in Nigerian postgraduate dental training to avert the looming dental training manpower crisis
Keywords: Postgraduate dental training, Nigeria, predictors