Trends Associated with Debt Loads Amongst Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Chief Residents

Publication date: Available online 16 January 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Jason P. Jones, III Edward Ellis

Abstract

Background

This survey-based study was undertaken to investigate how total debt loads are impacting the personal and professional decisions that graduating oral and maxillofacial (OMS) surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in total debt load on graduating residents and analyze the effects of this debt on career, family, and lifestyle choices after graduation.

Study Design

This study was a cross-sectional, web-based survey of all graduating OMS residents in accredited U.S. oral and maxillofacial surgery residency programs. Participation in the survey was optional and all responses were anonymously collected and data analyzed using Qualtrics software. The respondents were analyzed as a collective with the predictor of the study being program training length and the outcome being total debt load with independent analysis of select other financial variables.

Results

With 120 respondents out of 246 deliverable emails (48.7% response rate), the average graduating OMS resident was a Caucasian male with a median age of 32 who is living with a significant other or spouse who independently earned money without any dependents. The average range of accumulated debt of graduating residents was between $300,000 and $350,000 with 50.83% of the respondents having less than or equal to $350,000 in overall debt and 49.17% of the respondents having greater than or equal to $350,000 in accumulated debt. Of those respondents completing 4-year programs, the average range of accumulated debt was between $250,000 and $300,000 and of those respondents completing 6-year programs, the average range of accumulated debt was between $400,000 and $450,000 (p<0.08).

Conclusion

Graduating OMS residents carry with them a significant amount of debt whether graduating from 4-year or 6-year programs. However, when subjectively queried, most of these residents stated they would again choose OMS as a career choice.

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