Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Title

Factors that Influence Minority Students to Choose Physical Therapy as a Profession

Authors

Michelle M. Madison, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1998

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

Michelle M. Madison. 1998. Factors that Influence Minority Students to Choose Physical Therapy as a Profession. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department. (133)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/133.

Abstract

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.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy