Profile and expectations of students entering general practice residency programs.

Although various studies have attempted to evaluate the success of general practice residency (GPR) programs in providing postdoctoral training, little work has investigated the motivation for senior dental students opting for such training compared with entering directly into private practice. Questionnaires were administered to 58 seniors at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine 1 month before graduation to determine possible differences between those entering GPR programs and those planning to enter private practice. The survey also examined the goals of dentists about to enter GPR programs and compared them with the training goals determined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Although 75% of those entering GPR programs cited additional clinical experience as the reason for choosing this step in their careers, the most frequent response from those entering directly into private practice concerned the financial benefits. Also, of the respondents about to enter GPR programs, only one student indicated a desire for training in hospital dentistry. Although this survey was relatively limited in size, it appears that advanced instruction in the management of patients with complex health care problems is not one of the primary motivating factors for students considering residencies. This may indicate a need at the predoctoral level for greater instruction in changing health care demographics and in the training goals of general practice residencies, to continue to attract qualified dental graduates with goals compatible with those of GPR programs.