Unveiling motives for dentistry studies: psychometric validation of a comprehensive questionnaire among aspiring dental students

Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire for dental students in Ecuador to assess their reasons for studying dentistry. Materials and Methods: A 25-item questionnaire, grounded in prior quantitative and qualitative studies, initially reflected five theoretical factors (economic, professional, vocational, social, academic). Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted in two samples to define structure, followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a third sample. Results: Three samples were used (A: n=201; B: n=623; C: n=596). EFA in sample A yielded a five-factor, 18-item model; EFA in sample B supported a three-factor solution. CFA in sample C indicated the best fit for a three-factor model assessing labor, vocational, and academic reasons, permitting two theoretically justified cross-loadings between labor and vocational factors. Conclusion: The study presents a validated 12-item questionnaire measuring labor, vocational, and academic motives for studying dentistry in an Ecuadorian population.

Jorge Moncayo-Rizzo, Geovanny Alvarado-Villa, Iván Cherrez-Ojeda, Juan Carlos Gallardo, Eleonor Velez Leon, Susana Patricia Gonzalez Eras