Future Career Choices Research Articles

IMPACT OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BASED ON RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS RESEARCH AND THEIR SELF-EFFICACY

Advanced and free learning environment coupled with the creative learning activities is assumed to be a motivational variable. In the present study, we applied an innovative learning strategy involving students in order to achieve positive impact on their attitude towards science, desire to learn science and future career choices. The study experiment was focused on enhancing the research skills of the students; apply knowledge for solving real world problems, positively changing the students’ attitude towards science, raising students’ self-efficacy and enhance positivism toward science related subjects. This research assumes that if the attitude and perception of post-secondary students is changed and made positive about science, then they might choose to study related science subjects for example, mathematics, engineering and science at university level studies. Therefore, it will also impact students’ career choices after university studies and they might enter scientific careers. Our study focused on evaluating various changes in the attitude, desire and self-efficacy of participating students when traditional instruction is replaced through the innovative learning environment. A total of 120 students participated in our experiment where researchers assisted students to experience hands on different research activities. Pre and posttest were used to evaluate the change in students’ attitude and desire towards science, knowledge and self-efficacy. The study results have shown that significant changes in the performance of students’ for-example, student noticed positive attitude towards their own research abilities, desire to learn science, self-efficacy, learning and career choices. However, results did not show any differences based on gender as such.

Pharmacy Students’ Attitude and Future Career Choices: A survey of Four Public Schools of Pharmacy in Ethiopia

Pharmacy as a health profession has major responsibilities and contributions in maintaining health of the society. Thus, pharmacists have to maintain professional behaviour and attitude that is worthy of the respect the public has for the profession. Studies on pharmacy students’ attitude and career choice are important to understand next generation pharmacists’ expectation so that policy makers would act accordingly. The objective of this study is to assess pharmacy students’ attitude and future career choice towards pharmacy profession in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey using self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 422 sampled pharmacy students in four public universities of Ethiopia, from April to May 2013. Ethical approval of the study was obtained from all schools included in the study and oral consent was secured from the participants. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics was generated and possible relationships between variables were tested using a chisquare test. From 415 study participants, 313 (75.4%) of them were males and 37.2% were within the age range of 20-21 years. Slightly more than half (51.1%) of the students claimed that they joined Pharmacy school by choice. The mean attitude score of the students towards pharmacy profession was 3.69±1.28 in a scale of 1-5. Nearly half (44%) of the students had a desire to work in hospital pharmacy, while 35.1% of them had no preference related to specific area of practice. Though pharmacy was not their first choice for significant number of students, at entry, they had positive attitude towards the profession and were optimistic to practice in hospital pharmacy. Hence, mechanisms should be in place to advocate the profession for prospective students so that there would be informed decision to join the profession. Keywords : pharmacy students, attitude, career choice, Ethiopia, pharmacy school

Opinions on Medical Education, Options and Career Choices of 4th Year Medical Students

The University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureş is the only medical university in Romania that offers Hungarian-language education. We aimed to find out the opinions of 4th year Romanian and Hungarian-language students regarding education in our University, their learning habits, options, and future career choices. We found significant differences between the two student groups both in terms of learning habits and career choices. One of our most important finding was that the majority of Hungarian students considered that university education does not properly prepare them for the practice of medicine – a fact that should be given further consideration.

Whose choice? Young people, career choices and reflexivity re-examined

Young people making future career choices are doing so in an environment that often highlights the benefits supposedly wrought by individualisation and reflexive choice. It is argued that those who demonstrate reflexivity in their decision-making would have an advantage in the negotiation of future risks. The authors of this article agree with theorists who note that career choices are still strongly influenced by a person’s location in the class structure. However, unlike some writers who suggest youth from more privileged socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to evaluate risk and demonstrate reflexivity, the authors suggest the opposite. Interviews were conducted with young people aged 16–17 who are participating in an ongoing project designed to follow a cohort of young Australians from adolescence into later life. Our findings suggest that while a more privileged location may afford young people security from many potential risks and problems, this may in fact encourage a non-reflexive perspective and they may choose careers based on social norms rather than ability. Instead, we argue that it is young people from less privileged backgrounds who tend to demonstrate reflexivity in their career planning.

Attitudes, Motivators, and Barriers to a Career in Surgery: A National Study of UK Undergraduate Medical Students

Numerous factors influence the career choices of undergraduate medical students, although little work has focused specifically on the surgical specialties. We aimed to investigate medical students' early experiences of surgery along with the motivators and barriers to selecting a surgical career. All final-year medical students were invited to participate in an online survey. A range of quantitative data (expressed as a proportion of total respondents) and qualitative data (grouped and thematically analyzed) were collected to evaluate students' attitudes to careers in surgery and potential influences on these. A total of 482 students from 20 medical schools throughout England and Wales completed the survey. Overall, 91% of respondents had work experience before medical school, in which the greatest satisfaction was reported in the 21% who undertook placements in surgery. In addition, 58% expressed a desire to spend time working abroad and 59% to undertake a period of research; the primary motivator for both was career/professional development. Surgery was the most popular career choice amongst respondents. The 2 most important factors in decisions pertaining to their career were reported as interest in the specialty and work-life balance. Students draw career advice from numerous sources, most commonly mentors (49%) and student surgical societies (46%). Only 1% wanted more website information, with personal contact being paramount. It is vital for the continuing strength of the profession and the quality of surgery for the public that we continue to attract the best undergraduates into careers in surgery. Surgeons of all grades must be aware that how they are perceived by students affects future career choices. Early experiences of surgery are fundamental in assisting medical students to make informed career choices.

Encouraging Girls into Science and Technology with Feminine Role Model: Does This Work?

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty ninth-grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data were collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Nursing students' experiences of the clinical learning environment in nursing homes: A questionnaire study using the CLES + T evaluation scale

One major challenge facing the health care systems worldwide is the growing demand for registered nurses able to provide qualified nursing care for a vulnerable population. Positive learning experiences during clinical practice influence not only learning outcomes, but also how students reason in relation to future career choices. To investigate student nurses' experiences of the clinical learning environment during clinical practice in nursing homes, and to compare perceptions among student nurses with or without prior work experience as health care assistants in elderly care. A cross-sectional study was designed, utilising the Swedish version of the CLES+T evaluation scale. 260 student nurses (response rate 76%) who had completed a five week long clinical placement in nursing homes returned the questionnaire during the data collection period in 2011-2012. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to examine differences in relation to students with or without prior experience of elderly care. Overall, the clinical learning environment was evaluated in a predominantly positive way. The sub-dimension Supervisory relationship displayed the highest mean value, and the lowest score was calculated for the sub-dimension Leadership style of the ward manager. Statistical significant differences between sub-groups were displayed for four out of 34 items. The supervisory relationship had the greatest impact on how student nurses experienced the clinical learning environment in nursing homes. It is therefore, of utmost importance that collaborative activities, between educational and nursing home settings, supporting the work of preceptors are established and maintained.

Medical students' attitudes towards general practice and factors affecting career choice: a questionnaire study.

Background The current issue of general practice recruitment is a significant challenge and concern. In order to address this, it is vital to understand medical students' attitudes towards general practice and what influences their choice of intended career. Method We used a questionnaire study to examine these attitudes across all years at Imperial College Medical School and to understand what a group of London medical students' current intended career choices were. Results We found that only 13% of students ranked general practice as their first choice career despite having a generally realistic and positive attitude towards the speciality. They highlighted that the main influence on future career choice was interest in the specific speciality and that lifestyle factors did not seem to be so important. Conclusion Exposure to general practice, primary care research and student GP societies might play some part in increasing interest, but more work is needed to understand why students are rejecting general practice and what we can do collectively to attract students into choosing a career in primary care.

Lessons from an elective in Sierra Leone.

Lessons from an elective in Sierra Leone.

The Impact of a Medical Student Exchange Program on Students’ Clinical and Research Performance: A Subjective Evaluation Study

Background: International exchange programs can expose medical students to learning experiences in different health care systems. Exchange programs are considered to be an effective practice that strengthens students’ clinical skills and introduces them to new paradigms in addition to augmenting their self-confidence. King Fahad Medical City’s Faculty of Medicine, governed by King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, is one of the few medical colleges in Saudi Arabia that provides international training experiences for medical students. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a medical student exchange program on students’ medical and research skills. Methods: A case-control study conducted using a questionnaire survey. Questions addressed participants’ clinical, academic and research skills as well as future careers after the program; answers were scored on Likert scales. The control group consisted of students who did not enter the program. Results: A total of 86 participants were included in the final analysis. The majority of students believed that the program improved their clinical confidence when dealing with patients (82.5%), their clinical skills (85%), their communication skills (87%) and their involvement with the medical team (80%). Most of the students who participated in the program also agreed that it improved their clinical knowledge (87.5%), improved their grades in college (45%) and affected their future career choices. More than one-half of the students stated that the program improved their awareness of research. The program significantly improved academic performance and research awareness from the participants’ viewpoint (P=0.028). Conclusion: The student exchange program is a promising program that positively affects at least students’ perception of their confidence, attitude and future career choices. The results of the present study collectively support the efficacy of the program and demonstrate that it would be a valid suggestion for such a program to become more nationalized.

Learning Satisfaction with and Perceptions on Life Science of High School Students' in the Humanities and Social Science Course According to the Intensive Course Complete System of the 2009 Revised National Curriculum

Learning Satisfaction with and Perceptions on Life Science of High School Students' in the Humanities and Social Science Course According to the Intensive Course Complete System of the 2009 Revised National Curriculum

A Study on the Influence of Self-concept, Social Support and Academic Achievement on Occupational Choice Intention

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among college students’ self-concept, social support, academic performance, and occupational choice intention. Based on the literature review, this study established the research framework and identified the correlations among research variables. A questionnaire survey was conducted on college students in Taiwan, and 1,406 effective samples were retrieved. The data were analyzed using Amos. The results suggested that self-concept has a positive and direct effect on occupational choice intention; social support has a positive and direct effect on academic performance; self-concept and social support have insignificant effects on occupational choice intention through the mediating effect of academic performance. The research findings can serve as references for higher education institutions to improve career education in colleges and adjust the educational system, thereby strengthening educational planning, increasing students’ workplace cognition, and cultivating their workplace competence for future career choices.

Does Access to Role Models Influence Future Career Choice? Impact of Psychiatry Teaching on Recently Graduated Doctors in the United Kingdom

The authors determined who provides formal psychiatry teaching to newly-qualified doctors and whether the amount of such teaching correlates to a later career preference for psychiatry. Data were collected on the cohort starting work in 2010 until applying to a specialty training program 16 months later. Total hours of psychiatry teaching was compared with the number choosing a residency in the same specialty. A total of 19 hospitals in northwest England provided teaching programs for their interns and first-year residents (U.K. foundation doctors); 15 provided information on doctors' later specialty choice. Only 2.3% of teaching was dedicated to psychiatry. Doctors led a higher proportion of medicine or surgery sessions (63%) than those on psychiatry (48%). Provision of psychiatry teaching was associated with entering psychiatry residency. Hospitals providing the most formal psychiatry training have the highest proportions matriculating into a psychiatry residency.

Does Access to Role Models Influence Future Career Choice? Impact of Psychiatry Teaching on Recently Graduated Doctors in the United Kingdom

Does Access to Role Models Influence Future Career Choice? Impact of Psychiatry Teaching on Recently Graduated Doctors in the United Kingdom

Non-graduate and graduate entry medical students attitudes to psychiatry.

Graduate entry medical students' views of psychiatry may differ from those of school leavers. This study hypothesised that (i) exposure to a psychiatry attachment is associated with a positive change in attitudes towards psychiatry in both graduate entry and non-graduate entry students, (ii) graduate entry students exhibit a more positive attitude to psychiatry compared to non-graduate entry students and (iii) graduate entry students are more interested in a career in psychiatry than non-graduate entry students. In this study 247 medical students (118 females and 129 males) completing their psychiatry rotation were invited to complete questionnaires examining career choice, attitudes to psychiatry and career attractiveness for a range of specialties including surgery, medicine, general practice and psychiatry before and after their psychiatry attachment. Questionnaires were distributed prior to commencement of their attachment and redistributed on the final day of the attachment. Of the 165 participants in the study, 75 students entered medicine via the traditional route (without a primary degree), 49 entered via the graduate entry programme and 41 had a primary degree. Overall, medical students displayed positive attitudes towards psychiatry. However, while there was an improvement in attitudes towards psychiatry and the career attractiveness of psychiatry on completion of the rotation, no differences were found between graduate and non-graduate entry students. Psychiatry and general practice had lower ratings for career attractiveness than other specialities. No significant changes were found in the first and second choice of specialty. Our results show that improvements in attitude and career attractiveness do not necessarily correlate with increased choice of psychiatry as a specialty. Graduate entry has been considered a possible opportunity for increasing recruitment in psychiatry but our results suggest that this may not be the case. Follow-up studies are required to determine whether career attractiveness correlates with future career choice.

Are there future psychiatrists among medical students in Croatia? The role of premedical and medical factors on career choice in psychiatry

Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders, a worldwide shortage of psychiatrists exists. Moreover, the number of students interested in choosing psychiatry as their future profession is low and psychiatry is frequently regarded as one of the least wanted medical specializations. We report the findings of a cross-sectional quantitative survey of final year Croatian medical students as part of the International Survey of Student Career Choice in Psychiatry (ISoSCCiP). The questionnaire consisted of three sections: socio-demographic factors, psychiatric education during medical school, and attitudes and personality characteristics. Out of 200 students, 122 completed the questionnaire (response rate 61%). The overall student evaluation of the compulsory psychiatry curriculum was ‘average’. Significantly higher ratings were reported by students who attended special psychiatry teaching modules, or felt more involved in the teaching of the subject. Poor evaluation of medical school psychiatric education significantly increased the likelihood of not choosing psychiatry as a future career. The choice of psychiatry was also predicted by attitudes towards psychiatry and by personal characteristics. In conclusion, student ratings of medical school psychiatric education and involvement in teaching appear to influence choice towards psychiatry. Addressing these issues may increase the number of students motivated to pursue psychiatry as their future career choice.

The uniqueness of elderly care: Registered nurses' experience as preceptors during clinical practice in nursing homes and home-based care

The expected shortage of registered nurses with an advanced degree as specialists in geriatric care or gerontology is imminent. Previous studies report that clinical practice where student nurses are supervised by registered nurses has a direct impact on how students perceive nursing as a profession and future career choice. Considering the anticipated need for well-educated and specialised nurses it is therefore, relevant as well as necessary to describe clinical learning with a focus on preceptorship in geriatric nursing care. This paper is a report of a study describing registered nurses' experience of precepting undergraduate student nurses during clinical practice in nursing homes and home-based care. A qualitative design, based on seven focus group interviews, was employed with 30 registered nurses with preceptor experience from nursing homes and home-based care for the elderly. Our findings present three precepting strategies that are unique to elderly care: preparing students for end of life care, facilitating a respectful approach to the older person and promoting creativity and independent work. The findings are discussed using a socio-cultural perspective and illustrate how communities of elderly practice can be valuable learning environments.

Nigerian Medical Students' Opinions About the Undergraduate Curriculum in Psychiatry

The number of psychiatrists in Nigeria is inadequate to meet the treatment needs for neuropsychiatric disorders. Developing mental health competency in the future Nigerian physician workforce is one approach to filling the treatment gap. The authors aimed to assess medical students' attitudes to this training and its relevance to their future practice and to assess whether they are getting adequate or relevant training. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was undertaken among a sample (N=375) of 5th- and 6th-year students across four medical schools in Nigeria. Over one-tenth (12%) chose psychiatry as a future career choice. Most expressed positive attitudes toward psychiatry and its relevance to their future careers. A majority were enthusiastic about receiving training in psychiatry in primary-care settings and welcomed a curriculum that emphasized the learning and management of common psychiatric disorders seen in general practice. Medical students surveyed would welcome an undergraduate curriculum that integrates the learning of psychiatry with other specialties and skills-training relevant for primary care. Efforts to modify the current curriculum in psychiatry in Nigerian medical schools should be encouraged.

Female physicist doctoral experiences

The underrepresentation of women in physics doctorate programs and in tenured academic positions indicates a need to evaluate what may influence their career choice and persistence. This qualitative paper examines eleven females in physics doctoral programs and professional science positions in order to provide a more thorough understanding of why and how women make career choices based on aspects both inside and outside of school and their subsequent interaction. Results indicate that female physicists experience conflict in achieving balance within their graduate school experiences and personal lives and that this then influences their view of their future careers and possible career choices. Female physicists report both early and long-term support outside of school by family, and later departmental support, as being essential to their persistence within the field. A greater focus on informal and out-of-school science activities for females, especially those that involve family members, early in life may help influence their entrance into a physics career later in life. Departmental support, through advisers, mentors, peers, and women's support groups, with a focus on work-life balance can help females to complete graduate school and persist into an academic career.

Public Service Motivation: A Cross-Country Study

This article addresses the relevance of public sector motivation (PSM) among unemployed workers. Despite the growing research interest among many public management and human resource management (HRM) scholars in employment choice, efforts to understand the “working minds” and motivational factors among the unemployed in their pursuit of a future career choice have been almost non-existent in HR scholarship in the public sector, which is critical considering the growing number of unemployed workers both domestically and internationally. Using data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) on Work Orientation modules in 1997 and 2005, this article examines the effects of public service motivation and rewards-based motivation on career decisions among the unemployed in seven countries. Findings indicate that while PSM and extrinsic rewards are positive and significant predictors of choosing to work in the public sector, intrinsic rewards were shown to be in a reversed relationship. Results also indicated that respondents whose previous jobs ended either in dismissal or due to family responsibilities were less likely to choose employment in the public sector compared to those whose previous job ended primarily due to retirement. Implications are discussed.