Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis
Introduction: Dentists career satisfaction can significantly affect their quality of life and the quality of healthcare services provided to their patients. The aim of this 10-year repeated cross-sectional study is to assess career satisfaction among dentists and investigate its influencing factors....
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Dental Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016186 |
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| author | Meyassara Samman Shahad B. Alsharif |
| author_facet | Meyassara Samman Shahad B. Alsharif |
| author_sort | Meyassara Samman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Dentists career satisfaction can significantly affect their quality of life and the quality of healthcare services provided to their patients. The aim of this 10-year repeated cross-sectional study is to assess career satisfaction among dentists and investigate its influencing factors. Methods: Participants were distinct cohorts of dentists (n = 115) who graduated from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, in 2013, surveyed at 2 time points: upon graduation and 10 years later (2023). Data were collected through anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed, with the significance level set at <0.05. The distinct cohorts allowed for population-level insights but introduced variability that may affect longitudinal comparability. Results: The study included distinct cohorts of 90 respondents at each survey period (response rate was 78.3%). Of these, 68.9% were satisfied with their careers. Those who were satisfied were more likely to have a higher GPA (P value = .002), have a postgraduate degree (P value = .002), and practice in an academic institute (P value < .001). Only 31.1% felt their current career status was very aligned with their expectations set 10 years ago. (56.5%) were either considering changing their career away from dentistry or still unsure. Although 58.9% were working as full-time dentists, 45.6% of them are not planning to continue as they have the desire for early retirement. In fact, 7.8% have already quit dentistry and shifted to other professions. Only 15.6% chose dentistry because they were passionate about it. (52.2%) are planning to start a new full-time career outside dentistry. Conclusions: GPA, higher education, and work institutions influenced satisfaction and career alignments. Unsatisfied dentists are interested in establishing new careers in other fields consistent with Saudi Vision 2030. Clinical relevance: Investigation of students’ motivation by academic advisors is encouraged to guide them to achieve their expected goals and, thus, career satisfaction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1033387d05bf4e0baae982623f3223ca |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0020-6539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Dental Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-1033387d05bf4e0baae982623f3223ca2025-08-20T03:09:12ZengElsevierInternational Dental Journal0020-65392025-06-017532262227110.1016/j.identj.2024.11.021Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional AnalysisMeyassara Samman0Shahad B. Alsharif1Department of Dental Public Health, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80200, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 21589.Introduction: Dentists career satisfaction can significantly affect their quality of life and the quality of healthcare services provided to their patients. The aim of this 10-year repeated cross-sectional study is to assess career satisfaction among dentists and investigate its influencing factors. Methods: Participants were distinct cohorts of dentists (n = 115) who graduated from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, in 2013, surveyed at 2 time points: upon graduation and 10 years later (2023). Data were collected through anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed, with the significance level set at <0.05. The distinct cohorts allowed for population-level insights but introduced variability that may affect longitudinal comparability. Results: The study included distinct cohorts of 90 respondents at each survey period (response rate was 78.3%). Of these, 68.9% were satisfied with their careers. Those who were satisfied were more likely to have a higher GPA (P value = .002), have a postgraduate degree (P value = .002), and practice in an academic institute (P value < .001). Only 31.1% felt their current career status was very aligned with their expectations set 10 years ago. (56.5%) were either considering changing their career away from dentistry or still unsure. Although 58.9% were working as full-time dentists, 45.6% of them are not planning to continue as they have the desire for early retirement. In fact, 7.8% have already quit dentistry and shifted to other professions. Only 15.6% chose dentistry because they were passionate about it. (52.2%) are planning to start a new full-time career outside dentistry. Conclusions: GPA, higher education, and work institutions influenced satisfaction and career alignments. Unsatisfied dentists are interested in establishing new careers in other fields consistent with Saudi Vision 2030. Clinical relevance: Investigation of students’ motivation by academic advisors is encouraged to guide them to achieve their expected goals and, thus, career satisfaction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016186DentistsCareer choiceJob satisfactionDental educationProfessional burnoutPersonal satisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Meyassara Samman Shahad B. Alsharif Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis International Dental Journal Dentists Career choice Job satisfaction Dental education Professional burnout Personal satisfaction |
| title | Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full | Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_short | Assessing Career Satisfaction and Trajectory Among Dental Professionals: 10 Years Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_sort | assessing career satisfaction and trajectory among dental professionals 10 years repeated cross sectional analysis |
| topic | Dentists Career choice Job satisfaction Dental education Professional burnout Personal satisfaction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016186 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meyassarasamman assessingcareersatisfactionandtrajectoryamongdentalprofessionals10yearsrepeatedcrosssectionalanalysis AT shahadbalsharif assessingcareersatisfactionandtrajectoryamongdentalprofessionals10yearsrepeatedcrosssectionalanalysis |