8 September 2007
Dental student survey raises issues of NHS workforce planning
***Strictly embargoed for use until 00.01 am, Saturday September 8th***
A survey of senior dental students has found that 18% of them plan to
work exclusively within the private sector while only 3% intend to work
wholly within the NHS.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Dundee and published
in the British Dental Journal today (Saturday September 8th), raises
questions over future workforce planning for dentistry within the NHS.
"The results of this study suggest that future generations of dentists will have a pattern of professional life that may have the effect of reducing their clinical commitment, both in terms of working time and participation in patient care within the NHS," said Dr Fiona Stewart of the University of Dundee Dental School, lead author of the study.
"Our findings indicate that the plans senior dental students have for their future careers may well reduce the `supply side' of the workforce equation. This is particularly true with respect to their intentions regarding NHS work, childcare arrangements and retirement plans."
"If these career intentions are followed through it could impact significantly on the future clinical commitment available to the NHS, and in our view these intentions should be taken into account for future dental workforce planning."
The study also found that around 60% of students foresaw themselves
retiring from the profession or reducing their working commitment before
they were 60. More than half the students also said they would plan to
take time out of dentistry once they had started families.
141 final-year dental students at the Universities of Dundee and
Manchester were asked about their future career plans, with particular
emphasis on work-life balance issues, their attitudes towards the NHS,
and retirement plans.
The survey was carried out by principal investigator Dr Fiona Stewart
and Dr John Drummond, both at the University of Dundee, Dr Lloyd Carson
at the University of Abertay Dundee, and Dr Elizabeth Theaker at the
University of Manchester.
A similar study published two years ago by the same authors questioned
entrants to dental school and found similar numbers (3%) intending to
dedicate their careers wholly to the NHS. The biggest difference in the
results this time lay in the proportion of students intending to work
wholly in the private sector.
"When we previously spoke to younger students the number looking to work exclusively in private practice was 7.5%. This time we have spoken to more senior students and that figure has jumped to 18%," said Dr Stewart.
"That may reflect changes in attitude as students progress through their training."
The vast majority, 79%, expressed intent to share their workload between the NHS and the private sector.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Dr Fiona Stewart is a lecturer at Dundee Dental Hospital. Her principal
research interest is the work pattern of dental professionals.
Dr John R. Drummond is a Senior Lecturer/ consultant at Dundee Dental
school and is interested in dental workforce planning, admissions
policies to dental schools and the careers of dentists.
Dr Lloyd Carson, a social psychologist at University of Abertay, Dundee
was involved in the design of the survey instrument. She is also
currently examining the data from the survey from the point of view of
detecting differences in the types of motivation towards dentistry
reported by male and female late stage dental students.
Dr Elizabeth Theaker is a lecturer and Specialist in Oral Medicine at
the University of Manchester Dental School. She is also Senior Tutor for
Undergraduate Studies.
For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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