Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Purpose of the study: To assess the motivations for choosing dentistry as a career among 1st year
BDS students of Bhopal city and to better understand why students choose this occupation.
Objective: To know factors related to selection of dentistry as a profession and to suggest possible recommendations.
Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted and 248 students participated in the study. A self administered questionnaire containing 10 items was used to assess the motivation of 1st year BDS students in Bhopal city.
Results: It was found that for majority of them, (71.6%) dentistry was their 1st career choice, with medicine being the primary alternative. Among those 47.8% of them opted as courier because they were interested in dentistry and 36.3% because of family influence and majority (81.6%) of the respondents answered for name and fame, and 18.4% answered helping people and improving their appearance.
Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind in Bhopal city which hence provided valuable information on choosing dentistry by choice or chance. Reasonable knowledge was demonstrated but some deficiencies were evident.