Development and preliminary validation of the OMFS-PATH questionnaire assessing medical and dental students’ perceptions of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as a career

Perceptions of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) among medical and dental students are shaped by educational exposure, perceived knowledge, structural training requirements, and career-related attitudes. However, existing research largely relies on ad hoc questionnaires lacking formal psychometric validation. This study aimed to develop and conduct a preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – Perceptions, Attitudes and Training Pathway (OMFS-PATH) questionnaire. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among fifth-year medical and dental students at a Romanian university ( N = 206). The OMFS-PATH questionnaire was developed as a multidimensional instrument comprising six theoretically defined domains: educational exposure, perceived knowledge, professional perception, career interest, perceived barriers, and facilitating factors. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and item-level diagnostics. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the hypothesized six-factor correlated measurement model. All six scales demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.79–0.95) and satisfactory composite reliability (CR = 0.81–0.95). Most items showed satisfactory corrected item–total correlations and standardized factor loadings. CFA indicated modest global model fit (CMIN/DF = 2.739; CFI = 0.763; TLI = 0.748; RMSEA = 0.092), although item-level loadings largely supported the proposed factor structure. AVE values supported convergent validity for the Exposure, Knowledge, and Interest domains, while the remaining domains demonstrated AVE values slightly below conventional thresholds despite satisfactory composite reliability. Convergent psychometric evidence identified one Perception item and one Barriers item as underperforming, informing targeted refinement of the instrument. The OMFS-PATH questionnaire demonstrates strong internal consistency across most domains and provides preliminary evidence regarding a theoretically derived six-factor conceptual framework. Although global model fit in this pilot sample was modest, the findings provide a structured basis for targeted refinement and support implementation of the revised instrument in the planned main study. Further validation in larger and more diverse samples is warranted.