Purpose: To identify the factors that will lead minority high school students to chose careers in physical therapy, and to compare these factors with non-minority students' influencing factors. Method: Three hundred Broward county public high school students were surveyed using a self generated descriptive questionnaire, designed to determine the factors that influence minority students to choose physical therapy as a career, and to identify any different factors from non-minority students. Results: Two tailed t-tests revealed a significant relationship between minority female students rating their mother's influence higher than non-minority females. They were also used to find that minority students rated salary significantly higher than non-minority students. ANOVAs revealed that minorities rated the popularity and a convenience of location for their future career choice significantly higher than non-minorities. Pearson Product Moment Correlation revealed the more familiar a student is which physical therapy, the greater the chance for them to choose physical therapy as a career. Conclusion: Minority and non-minority students have different influencing factors when choosing a career. As a result of these findings, it would be beneficial for physical therapy educators to go to the schools, and to the parents to educate and inform them about physical therapy.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|