Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Currently, very few young dentists in Taiwan are willing to choose oral pathology specialist as their lifelong career. This study reported the views of young dentists on the profession of oral pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study exploited the observational method and the questionnaire survey to collect the views of young dentists on the profession of oral pathology in Taiwan. RESULTS: Thirty-five dental trainees or residents filled out the questionnaires. They agreed that the life quality or workload, interest, incidence of medical disputes, accomplishment, future job opportunities, salary level, and possibility to become a clinic owner were important factors that were considered to choose a dental specialist training program. Most (33, 94.3%) of them were sure that they would not choose oral pathology specialists as their lifelong career. The important reasons for not choosing oral pathology specialists as their lifelong career were learning characteristics, insufficient understanding of the work that an oral pathology specialist has to do, poor life quality or heavy workload, lower accomplishment, fewer job opportunities, and a relatively lower salary. The important factors that could increase the young dentists' willingness to consider oral pathology specialist as the lifelong career included increased income, life quality, and future job opportunities and reduced workload for the oral pathology residents and specialists. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the government should build a long-term budget to subsidize oral pathology residents and specialists to further solve the serious oral pathology specialist shortage problem in Taiwan.