Factors that influence physical therapists to pursue a career in geriatrics

Abstract

Background: During the next 25 years, the number of adults 65 and older is expected to double. This will result in an increased need for healthcare workers who are specialized in geriatrics. Unfortunately, both the number of healthcare workers currently treating this population and the number of healthcare students interested in geriatrics are in short supply. Purpose: The purpose of our research is to examine factors that influence physical therapists to pursue a career in geriatrics. Methods: Following approval from the Marshall University Institutional Review Board a list of 900 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) members who are Geriatric Clinical Specialists (GCS) and who have opted to participate in research was purchased from the APTA. A paper survey and pre-paid return envelope was mailed to all individuals on the list. The survey consisted of twelve questionswith onequestion requiring short answer.Analyseswere performed in SPSS and Stata (v.12.1) Open-ended responses were coded by the research team. Results: 458 completed surveys were returned (response rate of 51%). Five surveys were returned due to incorrect addresses. Results suggest that the majority of respondents developed an interest in geriatrics after physical therapy school (73%), despite the fact that most had exposure to geriatrics during school (81%). Slight demographic differences were found, such that females were more likely to develop an interest in geriatrics either before or after physical therapy school (83% vs. 75%). Additionally, a logistic regression suggested that age negatively predicted exposure to geriatrics during physical therapy school (β =−.12, p< .01, R2 = .16) and a multivariate regression suggested that age negatively predicted satisfaction with school-related geriatrics exposure (F(3, 157) = 4.5, p< .01). Finally, an exploratory factor analysis of various job characteristics (iterated principle axes with a promax rotation) suggested three distinct factors that attract individuals to the field: job characteristics (e.g., availability, flexibility, income, and work-life balance), intangible factors (e.g., complexity, focus on whole patient, and opportunity to make a difference), and professional opportunities (research and practice opportunities). Of these, respondents were most attracted to the intangible benefits of geriatric physical therapy. Conclusion(s): The results indicate that for the population sampled an interest in geriatrics tends to be developed after physical therapy school. The intangible benefits of a career in geriatrics such as patient complexity, focus onwhole patient and the ability to make a difference were the most attractive job characteristics for pursuing a career in geriatrics. Additionally, exposure to geriatrics while in physical therapy school appears to have become increasingly more common. Future studies will focus on students’ interest in career options upon entry into a physical therapy program. Implications: Gaining insight on factors that influence physical therapists to pursue a career in geriatrics will allow future studies to conduct interventions aimed at increasing interest of physical therapy students.