Motivation to study dental professions in one London Dental Institute.

INTRODUCTION: While past research has explored dental students' motivation to study, there is limited understanding in the reasons behind career choice for hygienists/therapists and dental nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate simultaneously the views of students of dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing in King's College London and explore similarities or differences in career choice. METHODS: All first-year students were invited to the questionnaire survey, exploring motivation to study using a 23-item instrument. Data were analysed using SPSS v18; statistical analysis included one-way analyses of variance and factor analysis. RESULTS: The overall response rate to the study was 75% (n = 209). Ten out of 23 factors were considered important by more than 80% of respondents, with 'job security' (93.8%), 'desire to work with people' (88%) and 'degree leading to recognised job' (87.5%) being top three. Analysis suggested that 52% of the total variation in motivating influences was explained by four factors: 'features of the job' (26%), 'education/skills' (11%), 'public service' (8%) and 'careers-advising' (7%); at group level 'features of the job' were significantly more important for the direct entrants to dentistry (P = 0.001). DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that across groups students were motivated to study by common influences reflecting altruistic, but also pragmatic and realistic motives, while 'features of the job' were more important for the direct entrants to dentistry.

Care home managers' views of dental services for older people living in nursing and residential homes in inner city London.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate care home managers' views on the provision of dental care (current and future; urgent, check-up and follow-up) for their residents, barriers to care and the impact of policy changes, by type of home (nursing vs residential), with a view to informing the planning and provision of care. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross sectional postal questionnaire survey and follow-up semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Care homes in South East London. PARTCIPANTS: All care home managers in three south east London boroughs. RESULTS: A 72% response rate (n=152) was achieved, 140 of which were designated as nursing and/or residential homes (92%). Almost all managers reported that the care homes had arrangements in place for residents to access some elements of dental care (99%, n=148). Reported barriers to care included residents' fear of treatment (53%), patients' limited mobility (45%) and waiting times for services (42%). Limited mobility (p=0.01) and transport issues (p=0.01) were more significant barriers for nursing homes, whereas fear (p=0.02) was more significant for residential homes. Access to a range of dental services and modes of service delivery were requested for the future; most notable were the demands for domiciliary services to be available to nursing homes and for residential homes to access local general dental practitioners to meet the needs of their residents. CONCLUSIONS: Managers report having arrangements in place for residents to access dental services; however, there was a clear view that future arrangements should be more appropriate to the needs and vulnerabilities of their residents.

Career choice, pathways and continuing professional development of dental nurses at one institution.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the career pathways and continuing professional development of dental nurses employed at one institution relative to the scope of practice. METHOD: A questionnaire exploring career pathways and continuing professional development of dental nurses was compiled and delivered to clinical departments. Responses were entered onto SPSS v17 for analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent (n = 64) of available nurses responded to the questionnaire survey. Eighty percent (n = 51) of the dental nurses were aged between 25 and 44 years, and 95% (n = 61) were female. The ethnicity of the workforce varied; 58% (n = 37) were White and this consequently constituted the largest ethnic group in the workforce. The dental nurses reported that they chose their profession for a wide variety of reasons, the most common one being the opportunity to progress in the dental sector. Before commencing training 38% (n = 24) were aware of their options for progression; this increased subsequent to training with between 55% (n = 35) and 66% (n = 42), depending on the option, stating that they were aware of their options for progression. Eighty-three percent (n = 53) were trained in an additional skill and all of those who were not (n = 11) stated that they would like this training. Conscious sedation was the most frequently possessed additional skill and radiography was the additional skill in which the highest proportion would like to be trained. Personal satisfaction was the most significant factor affecting the willingness of the workforce to pursue career progression. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that amongst dental nurses employed in one institution there is evidence that the majority benefit from continuing professional development opportunities, possess additional skills and are motivated to further their skills and progress in their careers.

Personality profile of students entering dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing at one London dental institute.

INTRODUCTION: King's College London Dental Institute (KCLDI) is the largest school in the UK, training dental professionals: Dentists, Hygienists/Therapists and Dental Nurses. Although previous work has examined dental students, there is a dearth of studies on the personality profile of students of hygiene/therapy and dental nursing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the personality profile of students studying dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing at KCLDI, by programme, sex and ethnicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: All entrants into dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing at KCLDI were invited to participate in the study. A self report questionnaire including the brief version of the Five-Factor Model and personal details was administered to the 218 recruited students in groups and under supervised conditions. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA on data from 148 questionnaires revealed significant differences; the medical graduate entrants to dentistry appeared to have a more extraverted profile than hygiene/therapy entrants (P<0.04). The graduate entrants to dentistry were more open to experiences than the direct entrants (P<0.03) and the dental nursing trainees (P<0.03). The medical graduate entrants also appeared more open to experiences than the dental nursing trainees; the latter also appeared to have a more sensitive profile compared to the medical entry students (P<0.03). No differences were found between groups in agreeableness and conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the presence of personality differences between entrants to dentistry, hygiene/therapy and dental nursing. The implications of these findings are discussed.