Factors influencing student choice of a degree in physiotherapy: a population-based study in Catalonia (Spain)

Abstract

Background In other healthcare professions, there has been extensive research into students’ motivation, but studies aiming to determine what leads individuals to choose a degree in physiotherapy are scarce. This research study had three main objectives: to obtain a sociodemographic profile of first-year physiotherapy students in Catalonia; to determine the factors that lead individuals to choose a degree in physiotherapy; and to determine potential differences, according to gender and country of origin. Methods This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study. Data were collected by means of a self-administered, ad-hoc questionnaire, consisting of 15 Likert scale questions, options ranging from “not influencing at all -1-” to “extremely influencing -5-”. Ten out of the twelve universities in Catalonia (Spain) that offer a degree in physiotherapy participated in this study. The sample consisted of 941 first-year physiotherapy students (55.2% men; mean age 20.1, SD: 3.4). Results The most determinant factors leading individuals to pursue a degree in physiotherapy were: helping others (95.6%); the relationship between physiotherapy and sports (79%); physiotherapy involving manual work (76.4%); and it being perceived as providing multiple job opportunities (75.9%). Male and French students were attracted due to its relation to sports (MD = 0.369, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.130, p < 0.027), perception of it being an easy degree (MD = 0.148, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.091, p < 0.037), admiration for a known physiotherapist (MD = 0.223, p = 0.006 and MD = 0.265, p = 0.001), employability (MD = 0.297, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.706, p < 0.001), good income (MD = 0.190, p = 0.002 and MD = 0.609, p < 0.001) and social recognition (MD = 0.164, p = 0.011 and MD = 0.286, p < 0.001). Helping others (MD = −0.149, p < 0.001) and interest in the sciences (MD = −0.164, p = 0.030) were more determinant for female students. Male students were more guided by recommendation (MD = 0.234, p = 0.001) and to complement previous studies (MD = 0.237, p = 0.016). French students tended to present more interest in the selection of physiotherapy as a wish since childhood (MD = 0.595, p < 0.001), due to its multiple job opportunities (MD = 0.427, p < 0.001) and because of manual work, and did not choose it to complement previous studies (MD = −1.122, p < 0.001). Conclusions The desire to help and care for others, the relation to sports, and involving manual work are the predominant factors that lead students to pursue a degree in physiotherapy. Female students favour helping others and science, whereas male students favour its relation to sports, complementing studies, social factors (admiration, recommendation, friendship) and socioeconomic determinants such as employability, good income or social recognition. When compared to Spanish students, French students were more motivated by its connection to sports, social and socioeconomic factors and some vocational determinants such as being a wish since childhood and interest in a manual profession.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on enrollment in undergraduate health-related studies in Spain

“…On the other hand, men reported being more motivated by good salary prospects and job prestige. In the same vein, a previous study conducted in Catalonia (Spain) also found male physiotherapy students to be more interested in employability and income prospects [37]. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, in a previous study female nursing students scored higher in values focused on social or affective relationships, while male nursing students scored higher in stereotypical masculine values such as dominance and success [43].…”

“…Healthcare students usually pursue their future profession due to intrinsic factors such as personal motivations (e.g., interest in the sciences) and humanitarian factors (e.g., serve the community, help and care for others), sociodemographic factors (e.g. gender, socioeconomic status), extrinsic factors (e.g., employability, financial security, expectations of salary, diversity of job opportunities) and interpersonal factors (e.g., family, friends, prestige, social influence and recognition [34,37]. According to a previous study, these mediators were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only in the enrolled undergraduate students [14] but also in future students considering studying a health-related degree, because the main interests were focused on the desire to help others, reinforce citizenship values, and improve the country's situation.…”

“…com/) and consisted of sociodemographic information and data regarding the main factors influencing the students' career choices and the impact of COVID-19 on their health, their social relationships and choice of degree. The self-reporting questionnaire was prepared by the research team based on previous studies [3,22,37].…”

The Attitude of Physical Therapy Students Towards their Profession and Education in Punjab

“…Teaching is mostly associated with patient assessment and treatment Absolutely Agree Agree opportunities. (17) The performance is based on clinical trainings and patient exposure during study years, which is predictor of license exams in different countries. (18) The overall satisfaction of students was good regarding knowledge, future beliefs, patient exposure and learnings in their institutes.…”

Percepção de alunos ingressantes do curso de Fisioterapia sobre a profissão: estudo qualitativo

“…Os estudos de Akodu et al e Fuente-Vidal et al investigaram e analisaram sobre a percepção dos alunos da graduação de fisioterapia de anos finais sobre o curso e o seu campo de atuação, bem como as perspectivas no mercado de trabalho, de maneira geral (Akodu et al, 2018;Fuente-vidal et al, 2021). Os resultados desses estudos sugerem que a fisioterapia está associada a um alto nível de prestígio ocupacional entre os participantes, com expectativa de bons salários, empregabilidade e múltiplas oportunidades de trabalho, além de o desejo de ajudar e cuidar dos outros ser o fator predominante na escolha de cursar a graduação (Akodu et al, 2018;Fuente-vidal et al, 2021).…”