Socio-demographic characteristics and career choices amongst Chilean dental students.

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the socio-demographic and career choice characteristics of dental students in two publicly funded universities in Chile. A total of 601 dental students participated in the study with a 53% response rate.The written survey covered age, gender, type of school attended, place of residence, parental occupation, level of education, tuition fees payment methods, along with motivations and preferences towards dentistry as a career.  The respondents had an average age of 22 years old. Sixty one percent of respondents were female, and the majority had completed secondary education in private and subsidized schools with only 21.5% having finished in public schools. Most of the students covered their tuition fees with parental money (37.1%), followed by any type of loan (27.9%). The majority of students (63.8%) had placed dentistry as their first career choice with self-motivation being the most important reason for their decision. This study provides a description of the socio-demographic and economic profile of Chilean dental students and provides insights about career decision issues. It also purposes areas for further research and management by academics for future program development. Keywords: students, dental, Chile, socioeconomic factors, career choice. Caracteristicas socio-demograficas y eleccion de la carrera en estudiantes de odontologia en Chile. El presente estudio descriptivo de corte transversal explora el perfil socio-demografico y los factores asociados a la eleccion de la carrera de los estudiantes de odontologia pertenecientes a dos universidades estales chilenas. Un total de 601 estudiantes participaron de esta investigacion con una tasa de respuesta del 53%.La encuesta escrita incluyo, edad, genero, educacion secundaria, lugar de residencia, nivel educacional y ocupacion de los padres, metodo de pago junto con las motivaciones y proyecciones de los estudiantes hacia la carrera. Los participantes reportaron una edad promedio de 22 anos. Sesenta y un por ciento de los participantes fueron mujeres, y la mayoria termino la ensenanza media en escuelas privadas o subvencionadas, con solo un 21,5% que se graduo en escuelas publicas. Un gran numero de estudiantes paga la universidad con dinero de sus padres (37,1%), seguido con creditos de diversa indole (27,9%). La mayoria de los estudiantes selecciono odontologia como primera preferencia (63,8%), y esa eleccion fue principalmente mediada por motivacion personal. Este estudio entrega una descripcion del perfil socio-demografico y economico de los estudiantes de odontologia en Chile y otorga una vision de la problematica que existe con los factores relacionados con la eleccion de la carrera. Ademas este estudio recomienda futuras areas a investigar y el manejo por parte de los academicos para el desarrollo de programas futuros. Palabras clave: estudiantes de odontologia, Chile, perfil  sociodemografico.

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