Knowledge, skill and ability, attitude toward working in rural area and factors for choosing workplaces among new graduate dentists from study year 2014

Abstract

This study aimed to examine knowledge, skill and ability, attitude toward working in rural area and factors for choosing workplace. Survey all new graduate dentists from study year 2014 who joined an orientation and choosing workplace in the Ministry of Public Health during 13-15 May 2015, by using a questionnaire. The result showed 524 respondents (96 %), average age was 24.4 years, 68.3% were female. Most of them had hometown from main province of region and general province, finished high school in Bangkok and main province of region, father and mother gradated bachelor degree and worked for government, direct admission method, had a good level of attitude toward working in rural area, attitude toward working in rural hospital was good and very good level, confidence in knowledge, skill and ability was high and highest level. Main factors of choosing workplace were not far from hometown and contribute to gaining knowledge and experience from working. 64.5% were working in community hospital. The expected income was 50,000 Baht per month. 68.6% had a post graduate study plan and 72.9% had the Ministry of Public Health as an original affiliation, choosing field of study among Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontics.