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Motives for studying dental medicine in Germany.

INTRODUCTION
Aim of this study was to investigate the motives for studying dental medicine of pupils and students accepted for first semester.


METHODS
Motives of pupils from secondary schools (grades 10 to 12) around Tübingen and accepted students at the Dental School Tübingen were evaluated using a five-level Likert scale. Information about age, gender, family, apprenticeship, and university enrolment was also included in the assessment.


RESULTS
A total of 402 out of 409 participants filled out the questionnaires. Of these 390 (280 females and 110 males) could be evaluated; the mean age was 17.4 years. 61 planned an apprenticeship and 64 already completed it, 93 were readily accepted at university. All participants highly rated the motives "help patients" and "good career prospects". As next, women chose "diversified activity", men "scientific interest". Participants who planned an apprenticeship rated "help patients" significantly higher than the other participants, while the motive "high responsibility of the dental profession" among interviewees with completed apprenticeship was highly significant in comparison with the rest.


CONCLUSION
Empathy for patients and high responsibility of the dental profession are more important than prestige or social standing. An apprenticeship seems to greatly influence the career choice by giving more weight to "high responsibility of the dental profession". In future, such results can help universities design selection tests to target specific groups. The high proportion of female dentists and the attitude towards work and family of the generations Y and Z may bring change to the traditional practice model in Germany.