Table 3.

Factor Analysis: influences on choice of dentistry reported by final year dental students

	Factor 1	Factor 2	Factor 3	Factor 4	Factor 5
	31%	11%	8%	6%	6%
	Professional job	Healthcare and people	Academic	Careers advising	Family and Friends
personal experience of dental care	0.26	0.03	0.04	0.27	0.28
work experience	0.14	0.21	0.01	0.28	-0.04
careers advice (computer)	0.06	0.06	0.13	0.79	0.14
careers advice (personal)	0.04	0.15	0.06	0.87	0.23
having studied sciences	0.15	0.23	0.25	0.21	-0.03
having tried alternative	-0.13	0.05	0.03	0.34	0.26
influence of family	0.12	0.00	-0.02	0.12	0.79
influence of friends	0.06	0.22	0.07	0.24	0.72
desire to work with people	0.21	0.57	0.20	0.09	0.29
desire to work in health care	0.14	0.65	0.27	0.11	0.03
wish to provide public service	0.08	0.70	0.08	0.19	0.13
professional status of dentistry	0.53	0.29	0.18	0.06	0.31
high income	0.49	0.24	0.18	0.10	0.31
regular working hours	0.64	0.29	0.29	-0.10	0.09
flexible working hours	0.48	0.37	0.25	0.05	0.11
independence	0.84	0.08	0.11	0.10	-0.03
being able to run a business	0.78	-0.07	0.04	0.08	0.01
job security	0.58	0.42	0.25	0.09	0.01
academic knowledge	0.23	0.17	0.93	0.10	0.15
scientific knowledge	0.28	0.32	0.81	0.09	0.01
practical skills	0.28	0.39	0.40	0.17	-0.19
degree leading to recognised job	0.33	0.31	0.19	0.09	0.06
range of possible careers	0.09	0.14	0.13	0.02	0.10