Career Knowledge Research Articles

Registered physiotherapists' knowledge of terms related to responding to evacuees during disasters and its status of use

Objectives Healthcare professionals are expected to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to protect the health status of individuals, particularly those with frailty, following unprecedented disasters. This study focused on the terms "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters" among physiotherapists, and the degree of knowledge and factors associated with knowledge of these terms were examined to consider ways for physiotherapists to participate more actively in disaster response.Methods A web-based survey was conducted among members of the Fukushima Physical Therapy Association from March 8-31, 2023. The survey items included basic attributes, knowledge of "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," and the presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors. The association between knowledge and length of career as a physiotherapist, presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors were examined using the χ2 test and residual analysis. Additionally, respondents were asked regarding their understanding of the physiotherapy recipients' "individual evacuation plan" and participation in formulating those plans. Those who understood and participated in those plans were asked to provide a free-form response about the use of the "individual evacuation plan" in providing routine physiotherapy and specific activities.Results Of the 1,645 participants, 171 (10.4%) responded. The respondents' mean age was 38.4 ± 8.5 years. Seven (4.1%) ，21 (12.3%) ，and 17 (9.9%) respondents answered that they knew "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," respectively. Those who knew the specifics of the recipients' "individual evacuation plans" used them to conduct evacuation drills that assumed actual conditions and shared information with other healthcare professionals. The presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, length of career, and experience supporting disaster survivors were associated with knowledge of "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," whereas the presence of own evacuation experience was not.Conclusion The percentage of current physiotherapists who knew "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters" ranged from 4.1-12.3%. Enhancing curricula in pre-graduate education and ensuring learning opportunities for physiotherapists may be helpful in collaboratively participating in disaster responses.

Empowering high-school students from low-income families in career decision self-efficacy: a quasi-experimental study

Adolescents from low-income families generally have limited resources, which may negatively impact their career development. This study reports findings from the Youth Work-Explorer (Y-WE) career development program for 519 high-school students from low-income families in Hong Kong. One hundred forty-six participants received a three-day career training workshop plus work-attachment Y-WE intervention (group A); 190 received only Y-WE intervention (group B); 183 students were recruited as the control group received no intervention during the study. All participants completed a questionnaire containing three scales measuring extroversion, career knowledge, and career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) twice before and after the intervention. Relative T-tests and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the intervention’s effectiveness. Results indicated that compared with the control group, participants in group A significantly improved in extroversion and career knowledge, while participants in group B significantly increased their career knowledge and CDSE.

Inspiring Careers in Mental Health: Piloting a Pipeline Program for Underserved High School Students.

Given mental health workforce shortages, academic psychiatry departments have a compelling interest in developing pipeline programs. This article examines a pilot program for high school students within an academic psychiatry department, assessing whether it successfully informs students about mental health career options and increases their interest in them. The authors recruited all program participants in 2022 and 2023 during data collection. The program served as an intervention, teaching participants about mental health career options, clinical practice, and client experiences via presentations from psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Participants completed a pretest at the start of the two-week program and a posttest at the end. On both the pretest and posttest, participants rated their agreement with 22 statements relating to mental health career knowledge, attitudes, and interest. The authors analyzed the data using dependent means t tests. The program increased participants' knowledge of the roles and paths to pursuing different mental health careers. It also increased participants' belief that they could pursue a mental health career. The program improved some but not all measured attitudes toward mental health and mental health careers. In 2023, the program increased participants' likelihood of pursuing a mental health career. A pipeline program for underserved high school students delivered by an academic psychiatry department is feasible, and it was effective in changing attitudes and increasing the likelihood of pursuing a mental health career.

Breaking the bias: perspectives of a WiSTEM2D programme inspiring female undergraduates for a technical future

PurposeThis is an account of student experiences with the 2020/2021 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design (WiSTEM2D) intervention programme at the University of Limerick (UL).Design/methodology/approachThe WiSTEM2D programme supports female undergraduate students undertaking science, technology, engineering, mathematics, manufacturing and design (STEM2D) courses, helping them develop and grow in their degrees, research and beyond.FindingsDuring the programme, data were gathered from students in the form of qualitative information, which was used to analyse perceptions of the programme. This analysis revealed that students found the WiSTEM2D programme beneficial to them and that it improved their confidence levels, career knowledge and overall networking abilities.Originality/valueWiSTEM2D is one of several initiatives globally that are attempting to empower and encourage women to be active in STEM.

The limited hospitality career knowledge of learners In Township High Schools, Cape Town

The hospitality sector contributes positively towards the SDG’s by addressing youth employment and economic challenges, specifically in South Africa. Therefore, awareness and knowledge regarding careers and opportunities that are available within the hospitality industry are vital. As a result, high schools are encouraged to incorporate the relevant knowledge about careers within the curriculum. Hence, this paper reports on the level of hospitality knowledge of high school learners in Cape Town townships. This was a cross-sectional study that followed a quantitative approach, whereby data was collected using questionnaires. Respondents were 720 pre-matric (Grade 11) learners who attended school in townships. Data were analysed using the Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 9. Thirty-seven per cent (37,2%) of the learners indicated that they received information about the hospitality industry through various platforms . The findings above are substantiated by the results that indicate that most learners (67.2%) know nothing about the hospitality industry. Furthermore, a few learners (28,5%) indicated to know about the industry. To support this statement, 8,8% mentioned available careers to be within the medical field. The present findings showcase the knowledge gaps that exist at the high school level, and this has a negative effect on the career choice and employment opportunities the hospitality industry offers. This calls for an intervention from higher education and industry to address identified gaps. The findings of the study share valuable insights regarding limited access to hospitality careers. This is a challenge because it hinders knowledge of career and employment opportunities.

Career Pathways: Studying the Factors Influencing Career Choice and Change Among Graduate Students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The present study aimed to investigate various factors that influence career choice and change of graduate students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. To achieve this objective, a qualitative research approach was employed, and a phenomenological case study design was utilized. Data collection was conducted through semistructured interviews, involving a total of 44 graduate students. Social Learning Theory as proposed by Krumboltz guided the study. The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. The findings of the study indicated that the career choices of graduate students were influenced by factors such as family members and siblings, academic performance, and a lack of sufficient career knowledge and information. Conversely, career changes were found to be influenced by low remuneration, low motivation, job insecurity, and long working hours. These findings highlight the importance of providing graduate students with comprehensive information about the programs they intend to pursue before enrolling in universities. Furthermore, it is recommended that higher learning institutions offer career information services to assist graduates in making informed decisions regarding their career paths. Additionally, parents should provide guidance to their children based on their career interests and abilities. Lastly, employers should strive to create supportive and motivating work environments that encourage employees to remain with their organizations for longer periods of time.

직업카드를 활용한 진로교육 프로그램이 지적장애 초등학생의 진로성숙도와 직업지식에 미치는 영향

This study aimed to examine the effects of a career education program using job cards on
 career maturity and career knowledge of elementary school students with intellectual disabilities.
 This study involved 20 students with intellectual disabilities in grades 4 to 6 that are attending
 special education classes at elementary schools in Gwangju Metropolitan City, with 10 in the
 experimental group and 10 in the control group. The career education program using job cards was
 implemented across 12 sessions during creative experience activities. A pre-post test control group
 design was employed to examine the effects of the career education program. To examine the
 intervention effect on students with intellectual disabilities, career maturity was analyzed with two
 independent sample t tests and career knowledge was analyzed with the covariance analysis(ANCOVA).
 The results are as follows: First, the career maturity of the experimental group was significantly
 improved compared to the control group, and not only the overall score, but the scores of each
 sub-area of career ability and career attitude were improved as well. Second, the career knowledge
 score of the experimental group was statistically significantly improved compared to the control
 group. The significance of this study lies in its application and exploration of the systematic career
 education program to elementary school students with intellectual disabilities based on the
 curriculum.

Interventions for Supporting Career Transition among Students with Visual Impairments

Purpose: Various interventions and career support services are necessary to aid visually impaired students in transitioning to a new career and becoming fully integrated into society. This article examined some interventions for assisting students with visual impairments (VI) to experience a smooth career transition. Design/Methods/approach: This research was conducted using a narrative-integrative review research approach. From an array of data sources, an investigator can provide a viewpoint on a subject matter by using a narrative-integrative review. Findings/Results: The interventions for assisting students with visual impairments in the career transition process were classified in this article as educational interventions, family participation interventions, work-based learning interventions, interagency and transition service intervention, career mentoring as an intervention, knowledge of career and job-searching ability as an intervention, and transition programs as intervention. The author in this article addressed various issues associated with the implementation of the interventions. Also, the author discussed strategies that can be adopted to facilitate the implementation of the interventions in order to promote the career transitioning of students with visual impairments. Implications: There is a need for collaboration in implementing interventions toward facilitating career transition for students with VI. The interventions outlined in this article should be implemented collaboratively by a team of teachers, psychologists, career professionals, families, and other important agencies. Using the article as a point of reference, it will be possible to categorize and target interventions to facilitate career transition for students with VI.

Measuring change within next‐generation agricultural and natural resources professionals

AbstractA dynamic and diverse workforce of agricultural professionals and scientists is needed to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for the challenges of food production for a growing population under the threat of climate extremes. One path to developing workforce talent is through summer research and extension experiences. The Applied Plant Systems (APS) Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEUs) program provided 23 undergraduates a pathway to work with agricultural science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through plant and soil sciences research and extension programs. To develop the professional skills of interns and guide self‐reflection, weekly Think Tank Sessions were organized to focus on teamwork, time management, decision‐making, and systems thinking. To assess variation in the students’ approach to their work, the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) was incorporated into program evaluation. Using a pre–post design, students’ agreement with statements reflecting a deep, strategic, or surface approach to their work was measured. T‐tests revealed significant increases in mean scores for subscales measuring Deep Approach, one subscale measuring Strategic Approach, and the subscale measuring fear of failure to reflect the Surface Approach. Increased fear of failure scores may be explained by new experiences working with research, peers, and mentors. Eight of 23 students who participated in a follow‐up survey after the conclusion of the program reported increased knowledge of agricultural careers. Results provided evidence that the APS experience increased student confidence in facing challenges that require deeper and strategic thinking and elevated their attention to monitoring the effectiveness of their decisions and skills.

A multimodal educational approach to non-practice-based pharmacy careers

Background: Pharmacy students have little exposure to non-practice-based (NPB) careers. However, their education prepares them for a wide array of NBP career opportunities. This work describes a multimodal approach to exposing students to careers in the pharmacy industry. Methods: This study assessed the impact of a multimodal approach to increasing awareness and understanding of NPB pharmacy careers within the PharmD curriculum. Students were surveyed before and after exposure to an elective course titled Pharmacists Roles in Drug Development (PRDD) that included a Value of Industry Pharmacist (VIP) competition and a seminar series about their knowledge, attitudes, and career interests. Results: The response rate was 39% (16/41) for students enrolled in the PRDD course and 20% (5/21) for those participating in the VIP competition but not the course. Interest in pursuing a career in industry pharmacy increased significantly after the course (p=0.018) from 39% to 56%. Self-perceived knowledge of careers in industry pharmacy increased significantly (p=0.0003) after the course. Students were extremely likely (50%), somewhat likely (17%), neutral (28%), or extremely unlikely (5%) to recommend the course to a fellow student. Also, the seminar series contributed to significantly increasing knowledge levels (p=0.001), with 20% of students reporting very high or high baseline knowledge that exceeded 60%, indicating very high or high knowledge after the seminar. Conclusion: In the current study, students showed a significant increase in interest and knowledge levels in industry pharmacy careers after participating in the course and seminar series, indicating that the methods employed in this multimodal approach were effective in educating students on alternative career pathways and piquing their interest in these pathways.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding the Prevention of Thalassemia in Parents of Thalassemic Children in Swat

Introduction: Thalassemia is a set of inherited disorder caused by a partial or complete mutation in one or more chain of the globin genes. Beta Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder throughout the world including in Pakistan. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents of the children suffering from Thalassemia with regards to disease prevention. It also determined the degree of social and religious opposition faced by these parents during implementation of preventive practices Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in district Swat, KP, via three regional thalassemia centers. Total of 200 parents of Thalassemia were interviewed using a pre-designed pre-tested structured questionnaire. All statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS 23.0) Results: Out of the total participants, male parents were (67.7%), while females were (32.3%). A total of responses were gathered, and analyzed. Most respondents had adequate knowledge positive attitude towards thalassemia. Age, education, gender, and family income were key factors that correlated with or predicted the youth’s KAP towards thalassemia. Older respondents and women were more likely to have good KAP. 77.5% of parents opted for prenatal diagnosis, and 77% opted for termination of the affected fetus. Among these individuals, 7.5% faced opposition from their family members when they went for diagnostic testing, and this opposition rose to 18.5% when they had to opt for termination. The local religious clerics opposed prenatal diagnosis in 3.5% of the cases and termination in 4% of the cases. Conclusions: When compared to previous studies, the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of our study population were better. Thus, population screening programs have a positive impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of careers of thalassemia patients. However, social and religious opposition needs to be countered for further implementation of effective preventive practices.

Carrier Knowledge and Adaptability Influence Student’s Carrier Choice: A Case of Pekan Community College

A country's economic development is driven by the management of its human resources. And the continuity of human resources is backed by the choices of careers available in local industries. This study focuses on examining the career choice in the tourism industry among Pekan Community College students. The aim is to identify the factor influencing students’ career choices in the tourism industry by measuring the intention to work in the tourism industry. The research method used in this study is quantitative with simple random sampling for 200 targeted respondents from Pekan Community College students. The data obtained from the survey were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The result obtained showed that the study is expected to provide a clear explanation of the factors that cause the occurrence of manpower shortage in the tourism industry. Career knowledge and adaptability has influenced the students’ career choice. These two factors need to be provided to students to further strengthen their confidence in making career choices later.

Who Am I? The Influence of Knowledge Networks on PhD Students' Formation of a Researcher Role Identity.

Higher education institutes both foster the advancement of knowledge and address society's socioeconomic and environmental challenges. To fulfil these multiple missions requires significant changes to how the role of a researcher is perceived e.g. a researcher identity that is congruent with the objective of contributing to fundamental knowledge while also engaging with non-academic actors, broadly, and entrepreneurship, in particular. We argue that the early stages of an academic career-namely the PhD training trajectory-and the knowledge networks formed during this period have a major influence on the scientist's future capacity to develop an appropriate researcher role identity. We draw on knowledge network and identity theories to investigate how the knowledge networks (i.e. business, scientific and career knowledge networks) of PhD students promote changes to, reinforce or conflict with the perception of a researcher role identity. Our longitudinal qualitative network study includes PhD students and their supervisors funded by the H2020 FINESSE project. At the network level, we show that scientific knowledge is distributed equally throughout young academics' networks but that entrepreneurial (business) and career knowledge tend to be concentrated around certain individuals in these networks. On the PhD student level, we observe different pronunciations of the researcher role identity linked to students' interactions with their knowledge networks. We distinguish identity conflicts due to misalignment between ego and alters which leads to withdrawal from the network. Our findings have practical implications and suggest that universities and PhD student supervisors should support PhD students to develop a researcher identity which is in line with the individual PhD student's expectations.

How do you know if this is for you? Exploration and awareness of technical STEM careers

AbstractSTEM technician and technologist careers can be accessible options for students; however, the historical devaluing of technical careers combined with a lack of awareness and familiarity with the specific options within this career cluster have resulted in a shortage of trained and prepared professionals. Grounded in social cognitive career theory, this survey study explores college students' knowledge of technical STEM careers, their high school career exploration experiences, and the relationship between science interest, career decision‐making, and technical career knowledge. Results from this survey indicate there is little to no familiarity with the majority of the STEM technician and technologist careers presented. However, results also show students are engaging in career exploration, and many are using more than one resource for exploration in their high school years. Implications for school counselors, teachers, family members, and community members are presented to specifically address the noted concerns.

Leaks in the Workforce Pipeline: Understanding Barriers to Pursuing Mental Health Careers among Undergraduate Psychology Students

Background Mental health workforce capacity has faced significant challenges which have only been exacerbated by COVID-19. Undergraduate students provide a robust entry point of a workforce pipeline, but many do not end up in mental health careers despite high levels of interest in this area. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify career barriers and related factors that might explain why few students enter the mental health workforce. Method We surveyed undergraduate psychology majors ( N = 230) from a large university about their career interests, career perceptions, vocational identity, perceived barriers, and post-graduation plans. Results About half of participants were interested in a mental health career but endorsed high levels of barriers, most of which are financial. Vocational identity predicted plans to attend graduate school after controlling for covariates. Conclusion Despite strong interest in mental health careers, students perceive significant barriers, and only those with the strongest identification with this career are likely to overcome these barriers. Teaching Implications: Psychology faculty can help to address gaps in career knowledge and better support students being well-versed in regional issues and career-related information, such as loan repayment programs.

Introduction of the genetic counseling profession by teachers in BIPOC-majority high schools.

The field of genetic counseling is racially and ethnically (RE) homogenous, with 90% of genetic counselors identifying as white. As awareness of genetic counseling increases interest in the career, one proposed method to increase the profession's RE diversity is to introduce genetic counseling as a career option to Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students during high school. This study explores the knowledge, presentation, and perceptions of the genetic counseling profession by high school teachers at BIPOC-majority high schools in the United States (US). Science teachers working at public high schools in Massachusetts and New York where greater than 75% of the student body identifies as BIPOC were invited to participate in a survey and focus groups for this study. A total of 456 teachers participated in the survey and a total of seven teachers participated in two focus groups. The survey data revealed that most (91.8%) participating teachers presented genetic counseling, though BIPOC-identifying teachers were more likely to report never presenting genetic counseling than white-identifying teachers. In addition, teachers' knowledge of the genetic counseling career and frequency of presenting it were strongly associated, suggesting that increasing knowledge of genetic counseling among teachers, particularly those who are BIPOC-identifying, could lead to increased presentation to BIPOC students. Major themes that emerged through the focus groups included (1) teachers perceiving genetic counseling as novel and complex in comparison to other healthcare professions, (2) teachers sharing that multiple methods can and should be used when introducing genetic counseling to students, and (3) the notion that teachers could have an important role in introducing genetic counseling to their students. Considering findings from the survey and focus groups, recommendations from this study include increasing awareness of genetic counseling among BIPOC-identifying science teachers at BIPOC-majority high schools, gradually introducing genetic counseling topics to students beginning at a young age, and utilizing student-led teaching activities.

The Influence of Personality Traits on Career Decision among Secondary School Students in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State

The purpose of this study was to look at the impact of personality characteristics on profession decisions among secondary school students in Enugu State, Nigeria. The survey design was used for the investigation. The research's sample of 200 kids was recruited from ten public schools in the study region using a stratified random selection procedure. The main data collecting instrument was the personality traits and students' career choices questionnaire (PTSCDQ), and the data obtained was analyzed using the independent t-test technique. At the 0.05 level of significance, the null hypotheses were tested. The findings suggested that attitude and perception personality characteristics had a substantial effect on secondary school students' profession decisions. Based on these and other findings, it was determined that students' profession choices are impacted not only by their parents and image models, but also by their attitude, perception, and individual attributes based on how they think about such careers. As a result, it was suggested that professional counselors, parents/guardians, teachers, and administrators work together to raise career knowledge and pay greater attention to the personality traits of attitude and perception demonstrated by students.

Developing Participatory Learning Mechanism in Good Agricultural Practices Following Sufficiency Economy Lifestyle of Ban Pong Yaeng Nai School, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province

This research's objective was to develop the participatory learning mechanism in good agricultural practices following the sufficiency economy lifestyle of Ban Pong Yaeng Nai School, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. The findings revealed: 1) the overall cognition of safe cultivation by applying good agricultural practices for the lunch project was low. As the guidelines of participatory learning mechanism, the school required safe food agriculture and applied information to develop nine learning bases the Kindergarten One to Grade Sixth. The design and learning mechanism’s results were (1) a group of the participatory learning-driven working group performed the determined duties, (2) the nine learning bases with a high-level accuracy and appropriateness. Additionally, the results of driving a participatory learning mechanism for safe food were high. The overall satisfaction with the students' career skills, knowledge, and understanding of safe agriculture among the teachers and parents was high. Furthermore, the participatory learning mechanism in good agricultural practices following the sufficiency economy lifestyle of Ban Pong Yaeng Nai School, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province as the possibility, satisfaction was at a high level, and the advantages were at the highest level.

Exploring School Students’ Knowledge and Expectations of Careers in Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing: A Thematic Analysis

AimsAttracting more doctors and nurses to mental health careers is vital to support the growing demand for mental health services. Despite low numbers of doctors choosing psychiatry, and a shortage of mental health nurses, psychology degrees remain a popular choice. This study explores the understanding and knowledge students studying psychology A Level have about mental health careers, and the careers guidance they have received. We ask ‘are students who are interested in studying psychology at university an untapped resource for recruitment to psychiatry and mental health nursing?’.MethodsFocus groups were held with A-Level psychology students considering applying to university to study psychology. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed and anonymised and were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree key themes were identified. Firstly, student interest in psychology as a degree subject (with mental illness, neurobiology and human behaviour cited as key interests). Secondly, student motivation for a future career in which they would have a therapeutic role working with people with mental illnesses. Thirdly, student knowledge, or lack of it, around what a career in psychology or other mental health careers would entail, and the pathways to these.ConclusionThere remains uncertainty in young people regarding what the different types of mental health practitioner roles are, and the career pathways to these. More detailed, accurate information made available to students interested in working with people with a mental illness may lead to more students considering a career in mental health nursing or medicine (and then psychiatry) as an alternative to a psychology. It is important that those aspiring to become clinical psychologists understand the qualifications required and competitive nature of this profession. Inaccurate information runs the risk of students acquiring significant university debt, only to find they are not qualified for the type of role they envisaged. A lack of accurate, high quality and timely careers information may also be depriving psychiatry and mental health nursing of enthusiastic, able and motivated students. This study adds support to the need for better careers guidance and awareness around mental health careers for school and sixth form students.

Understanding transgender persons' careers to advance sustainable development: The case of Trans for Career Thailand

AbstractCareers are fundamental in progressing gender and income equality as key objectives of sustainable development. However, transgender persons often face unique challenges that prevent them from advancing in the world of work. This article elaborates upon the case of “Trans for Career Thailand,” an advocacy group established during the COVID‐19 pandemic with the purpose of offering career and employment opportunities to all transgender persons. Through primary and secondary data, the findings elucidate how “Trans for Career Thailand” uses its social media presence to build career knowledge, a community of career professionals and, finally, a trans career movement. This article shines a spotlight on the careers of transgender persons as a point of departure for advancing gender and income equality. Hence, it contributes to career development literature while offering important recommendations for sustainable development, employment policies, and advocacy groups.