Mehwash Kashif, Aiman Shaikh, Naheed Najmi, Aqsa Iqbal.
Dental Post Graduate Educational Programmes Preferences in Pakistan and Factors Affecting it: a Cross Sectional Survey Conducted at Karachi, Pakistan.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;58(2):98-102.

Background: Attainment of professional education is a dream for both parents and dental students. Professional dental education provides a track by which students can choose their postgraduate program as per the choice and opportunity available. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the reasons and preferences of choosing dental post graduate educational programmes among dental students and house officers of Karachi dental colleges. Study type, settings and duration: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students and house officers of dental colleges in Karachi, from July 2016 to December 2016. Methodology: Data was collected on predesigned questionnaire. Inclusion criteria was 3rd and 4th year BDS students and house officers of dental colleges of Karachi. Students were asked for pursuance of postgraduate programs and reason of choosing any specific field. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 20.0. Results: Out of 246 participants, 46.5% answered to choose postgraduate study because of their personal interest while 11.80% have not decided yet. Total 48.3% of participants choose to pursue Fellowship of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) while 34% chose in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) and 19.5% chose Orthodontics as their desirable field to pursue Postgraduate dental education. Personal interest is the major factor of choosing any specialty. Conclusion: A majority (84%) of study participants desired to get post-graduation, almost half of them wanted to get FCPS degree (48.3%). Majority of participants wants to pursue post-graduation in OMFS and personal interest was the major factor.

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