Showalter Vincent, Russian Chris, Gonzales Joshua, Ari Arzu
Department of Respiratory Care, Texas State University, Round Rock, Texas.
Can J Respir Ther. 2021 Nov 29;57:154-159. doi: 10.29390/cjrt-2021-020. eCollection 2021.
Respiratory care programs are under pressure to recruit and retain students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Factors that influence undergraduate students' decisions to continue their education into an advanced degree program are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to determine students' perceived self-efficacy, outcome expectations, barriers, and support to attend a Master of Science in Respiratory Care (MSRC) program.
This study used a survey from a previous study that included questions on undergraduate student self-efficacy, outcome expectations, perceived barriers and was utilized to assess students' perceptions of the support to attend an MSRC and its impact on their career goals. Student self-efficacy is defined as a person's beliefs and ability about his/her capacity to succeed in a specific situation. All undergraduate students ( = 89) in the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program at Texas State University were invited to participate in the study.
A total of 87 surveys were collected (42 juniors and 45 seniors) with a response rate of 97.7%. Ninety percent of study participants were female, and the average age was 22.54 ± 3.50 years. Self-efficacy results indicate that 88.5% of our undergraduate students believe they would be successful if enrolled in the MSRC program. Only 58.6% are interested in pursuing the MSRC, possibly because 51.7% do not think the MSRC is required for the job they want. However, 98.8% believe the MSRC will create more opportunities for them. Cost (34%), tired of schoolwork (20%), and marriage (10%) are the three main reasons not to attend the MSRC. Of those interested in an MSRC program, 71.3% reported that they do not know if they can receive financial support for graduate studies, 71% are unaware of how to contact a graduate program coordinator, and 89% fear difficulty in navigating graduate school and networking with others.
Respiratory care students have self-efficacy to attend an MSRC program and believe it will provide more opportunities for them. However, cost and resource awareness are the main barriers to enrolling in the graduate program. This study highlights students' perceived barriers and challenges in advancing their knowledge and continuing their education with an MSRC degree and the need for student support.
呼吸治疗专业项目在本科和研究生项目的招生和留住学生方面面临压力。影响本科学生继续深造攻读高级学位项目决策的因素尚未完全明确。本研究的目的是确定学生对攻读呼吸治疗理学硕士（MSRC）项目的自我效能感、结果期望、障碍及支持情况。
本研究采用了一项先前研究中的调查问卷，该问卷包含有关本科学生自我效能感、结果期望、感知障碍的问题，并用于评估学生对攻读MSRC项目的支持情况及其对他们职业目标的影响。学生自我效能感被定义为一个人对自己在特定情况下取得成功的能力的信念和能力。德克萨斯州立大学呼吸治疗理学学士项目的所有本科学生（n = 89）均受邀参与本研究。
共收集到87份调查问卷（42名大三学生和45名大四学生），回复率为97.7%。90%的研究参与者为女性，平均年龄为22.54 ± 3.50岁。自我效能感结果表明，88.5%的本科学生认为如果就读MSRC项目他们会取得成功。只有58.6%的学生有兴趣攻读MSRC，可能是因为51.7%的学生认为他们想要的工作不需要MSRC学位。然而，98.8%的学生认为MSRC会为他们创造更多机会。费用（34%）、厌倦课业（20%）和婚姻（10%）是不参加MSRC的三个主要原因。在对MSRC项目感兴趣的学生中，71.3%表示他们不知道自己是否能获得研究生学习的经济支持，71%不知道如何联系研究生项目协调员，89%担心在研究生院学习和与他人建立联系会有困难。
呼吸治疗专业学生有攻读MSRC项目的自我效能感，并认为该项目会为他们提供更多机会。然而，费用和资源认知是攻读研究生项目的主要障碍。本研究凸显了学生在提升知识水平并攻读MSRC学位以继续深造方面所感知到的障碍和挑战，以及对学生支持的需求。
