The impact of COVID-19 on health professions student’s perceptions, future education and career aspirations and confidence in public health responses

Abstract

Objective: To understand student perceptions, interest and intentions of pursuing public health as a result of COVID-19 during educational experiences. Participants: Two hundred seventy-seven students completed the survey representing 38 states and two countries. Methods: An online survey was administered to current undergraduate and graduate students at two institutions. Results: The difference between the ease of attaining a public health job for nonpublic health and public health students was significant prior to (p = .002) and during the pandemic (p = .015). There was an increase of 5.8% in student interest in continuing education in public health. 13% of respondents agreed the pandemic had been handled appropriately at the national level and 33% at the state level, and 57% expressed distrust of future responses. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a positive influence of COVID-19 on the desire to seek further education and careers in public health, highlights a lack of confidence in effective future pandemic responses.