CREATIVITY OF FUTURE DENTISTS: GENDER DIMENSION AND PROFESSIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

Summary. Introduction. It was found that despite the importance of creativity for future dentists, the problem of diagnosing its level and the influence of gender differences on its development remains insufficiently studied.

Purpose. To reveal the results of an empirical study of the tendency to manifest creativity and the gender characteristics of its development in future adolescent dentists.

Methods. A complex of theoretical and empirical methods was used. The respondents were first-year students of the Faculty of Dentistry of Poltava State Medical University. To assess creativity, the F. Williams test questionnaire modified by N. Belskaya was used. Data collection and mathematical processing were carried out using Google forms, as well as descriptive statistics and Student's t-test for comparing mean values in MS Excel.

Results. Testing showed that the arithmetic mean value of the creativity indicator in the sample of respondents is within the average level. Most dental students have sufficient or high creative potential. At the same time, no statistically significant differences in the level of creativity between boys and girls were found. This result may be a consequence of the limitations of the study or indicate that training contributes to the leveling of gender differences.

Originality. Empirical data on the level of creativity and its gender characteristics in future adolescent dentists were obtained and systematized.

Conclusion. The experiment confirmed that the majority of future dentists have sufficient or high creative potential, which is a prerequisite for the successful solution of clinical tasks. The absence of statistically significant gender differences in creativity was revealed. In the future, it is planned to conduct longitudinal studies, expand the sample to other specialties and study the relationship of creativity with academic and professional success.