• Chanchai Hosanguan
• Jirawat Kiertiburanakul
• Pongkarn Soonthornchai

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of gender role on selecting dentistry as a career and on the future career plan after graduation.

Materials and methods The sample comprised of all 616 dental students at Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University in academic year 1999. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on decision regarding dental career choice, as well as future career plan. Comparative analyses were performed between male and female dental students.

Results A group of 427 dental students returned completed questionnaires; 344 females (80.6 per cent) and 83 males (19.4 per cent). It was found that the number of female dental students deciding on dentistry as first career choice was significantly higher than the number of male counterparts (P < 0.05). While most female dental students were usually advised on career choice by their parents, many male students decided by themselves to choose dental career. In addition, a larger proportion of female dental students had relatives who were working or studying in the field of health science than male students (P < 0.05). With respect to future career plan, there was a significant difference of the perceived impact of having children on working hours between male and female dental students (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Gender role seemed to exert an influence on dental career choice and may be influential in determining future career pattern.

(CU Dent J. 2004;27:19-31)