Dental hygiene student. Interest in advanced education

This paper reports the results of a 1985 survey of certificate/associate degree students' interest in advanced education: baccalaureate degree completion and non-degree granting residency programs. Subjects included first- and second-year dental hygiene students enrolled in 12 vocational, community college, state, and research university institutions in a five-state region in the upper Midwest. The data collection instrument consisted of a 12-item mailed questionnaire. One hundred percent program and 78.7% student response rates were achieved. Results indicate that respondents are interested in degree completion and non-degree granting residency programs. Interest varied by age and by type of institution in which respondents were completing their dental hygiene education. While younger respondents were more likely to express interest in advanced education, respondents over the age of 30 were generally interested or undecided. Overall, respondents indicated slightly different areas of interest for degree completion versus residency programs. In general, respondents indicated an interest in pursuing advanced education on a part-time, evening basis, within five years of completion of their basic dental hygiene education. Cost, time, and family commitments were identified by respondents as major barriers to continuing their education.