Attitude and perception of undergraduate dental students toward endodontics as a specialty in India

Abstract

Introduction: Students′ attitude toward choosing a specialty subject for post graduate studies is of great importance for the education system. Aim: To evaluate the dental students′ perception and attitude toward learning, in rendering treatment, choosing endodontics as a specialty for post-graduation. Materials and Methods: A semi structured questionnaire study survey consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions was compiled and distributed among 400 undergraduate dental clinical students. The main domains appraised were preclinical and clinical training in endodontics, their opinion and interest in endodontics as post-graduate specialty. One sample chi-square test was done to see the association of subject response toward endodontic as a specialty response to each question. Results: The response rate was 74.5%, the results showed 72% of the students preferred preclinical training on extracted human teeth. 71% of the students believed that intense preclinical training will help them to manage patients confidently. Conclusion: The principal conclusion of the study revealed that majority of the students find endodontics an interesting subject to study and they would opt for endodontics as a postgraduate specialty subject.