Gender-based differences in satisfaction with academic preparation and practice experiences.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that practice patterns and other variables had on graduates' level of satisfaction with dental school preparation and satisfaction with several career experiences and to determine if any gender-based differences occurred in these findings. Dentists who graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry between 1985 and 2005 were surveyed regarding demographic factors, practice characteristics, satisfaction with educational preparation, and satisfaction with practice experiences. The response data were analyzed using Spearman's rho, multiple regression analysis, and the Pearson product moment. As a result of this analysis, no statistically significant differences were found between male and female dentists who graduated from Creighton University between 1985 and 2005 with respect to satisfaction with academic preparation and postgraduation practice experiences. The findings indicate that gender is not associated with graduates' level of satisfaction with their academic preparation while in dental school and their practice experiences.