• Chanchai Hosanguan B.Sc. (Hons), D.D.S. (Hons), M.S.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of hometown on the choice of practice
location of Chulalongkorn (C.U.) dental graduates.

Materials and methods A survey was conducted on a systematic random sample of 1,289 C.U.
dental graduates during the past 30 years. Data about hometown and practice location were collected
by mailed questionnaires. Three hundred and seventy-five active practicing dentists returned
completed questionnaires. Relationships between hometown and practice location were analyzed,
while controlling for extraneous variables using Mantel-Haenszel chi square.

Results About 60.5% of C.U. dental graduates had hometown in Bangkok. There was a significant
relationship between hometown and practice location. Most dentists from Bangkok and perimetropolitan
had practice location in their hometown. Dentists from other regions had practice
location divided between their hometown and Bangkok. After controlling for extraneous variables,
dentists from other regions had an odds ratio of 2.79 to practice outside hometown as compared to
dentists from Bangkok and peri-metropolitan.

Conclusion This study indicates that hometown was one of the important determinants of practice
location among C.U. dental graduates. Hometown-related policies developed to rectify maldistribution
problems need to consider other relevant factors.

(CU Dent J. 2007;30:103-16)