Adaptation and validation of the MEEP-7 scale to assess motivations for studying dentistry in a Peruvian population

Herrera-Plasencia P.M.; Mamani-Benito O.; Turpo-Chaparro J.E. · Educacion Medica (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.edumed.2025.101134

Resumen

Introduction: The quality of training for qualified human resources in stomatology depends on the motivations of university students. However, in the Peruvian context, there are few studies that validly and reliably assess these motivations. Methods: Cross-sectional instrumental study, in which 627 male and female students enrolled in the dentistry program at a university in Peru voluntarily participated. The instrument validated was the scale of motivations for studying dentistry validated in Cuban students. It consists of seven items distributed across two dimensions. To determine content validity, Aiken's V coefficient was used; construct validity was determined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient; and measurement invariance was determined according to gender. Results: All items received a favorable evaluation from the judges (V > 0.70). The CFA managed to corroborate the original model of 2 factors. In this case, the goodness of fit indexes was adequate: χ2(2) = 29.294, p = 0.004, CFI = 0.902, RMSEA = 0.048 and SRMR = 0.020. The configurational invariance resulted in an acceptable adjustment χ2(10) = 27.62, p = 0.00, CFI = 0.986, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.045. Finally, the reliability of each dimension was very good (α > 0.80). Conclusions: The MEEP-7 scale showed adequate reliability and validity in Peruvian dentistry students. This makes it a valuable tool for selection, training, and professional evaluation processes in the field of dentistry.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo; Universidad Peruana Unión; Universidad Señor de Sipán