Evaluation of attitudes--dental class of 1991: a nine-year longitudinal study

A longitudinal sample of students at a Midwest dental school was surveyed with regard to eleven attitudes about their choice of a dental career, their feelings about dental education, and their views of the dental profession. The survey was repeated seven times for the same respondents: at freshman orientation, at the end of the first, second, third, and fourth years, two and a half years, and five years following graduation. Respondents reported being optimistic about the profession, with the exception of a consistent loss of confidence in the validity of initial licensure examinations. They also felt positive about their education; although the third year placed the most stress on their positive views.