Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Podiatry, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
J Foot Ankle Res. 2024 Sep;17(3):e70004. doi: 10.1002/jfa2.70004.
Podiatry enrolments at Australian and New Zealand universities have decreased by 17.3% since 2015, which threatens the profession's sustainability and the health and wellbeing of Australian and New Zealand people and communities. Reasons for this decline remain unclear due to insufficient evidence on factors influencing career choices. The overarching aim of this study was to identify motivators and barriers for studying podiatry in Australia and New Zealand.
This study used a convergent mixed methods design. Students enrolled in (i) podiatry and (ii) relevant non-podiatry health, sport or science programs at nine Australian and one New Zealand university, were invited to participate in an online survey. First-year podiatry students were also invited to participate in an online workshop. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear/logistic regression models. Three independent assessors used inductive thematic analysis for the qualitative data.
Overall, 278 podiatry students (mean age 24.9 ± 8.5 years, 65.1% female) and 553 non-podiatry students (mean age 24.8 ± 8.2 years, 75.4% female; 32.2% from physiotherapy and 29.1% from occupational therapy) responded to the survey. Interest in a health-related career, wanting to make a difference to people's health, and opportunity to care for people from different backgrounds/age groups were key motivating factors among podiatry students. Barriers to studying podiatry were encountered by 28.1% of podiatry students. Thematic analysis identified seven themes concerning career choice, which are as follows: (i) awareness of profession and scope of practice; (ii) stereotypes and negative perceptions of the profession; (iii) awareness of career pathways; (iv) job prospects and earning potential; (v) working with people and building relationships; (vi) podiatry is not the first preference; and (vii) barriers which limit student enrolment.
There are a variety of factors that motivate and influence students to study podiatry, however, altruistic reasons are most highly rated. Allied health students have limited understanding of the scope of practice and career opportunities in podiatry. Additionally, the podiatry profession often faces negative stereotypes. Further work is required to reverse the negative stereotypes and perceptions of podiatry and build knowledge of the profession's scope of practice, career pathways/opportunities, job prospects and earning potential.
自 2015 年以来，澳大利亚和新西兰大学的足病学入学人数下降了 17.3%，这威胁到该专业的可持续性以及澳大利亚和新西兰人民和社区的健康和福祉。由于缺乏影响职业选择因素的证据，导致下降的原因仍不清楚。本研究的总体目标是确定在澳大利亚和新西兰学习足病学的动机和障碍。
本研究采用了收敛混合方法设计。邀请在九所澳大利亚和一所新西兰大学入读（i）足病学和（ii）相关非足病学健康、运动或科学课程的学生参加在线调查。还邀请了一年级足病学学生参加在线研讨会。使用描述性统计和线性/逻辑回归模型对定量数据进行分析。三位独立评估员使用归纳主题分析对定性数据进行分析。
共有 278 名足病学学生（平均年龄 24.9±8.5 岁，65.1%为女性）和 553 名非足病学学生（平均年龄 24.8±8.2 岁，75.4%为女性；32.2%来自物理治疗，29.1%来自职业治疗）对调查做出了回应。对健康相关职业的兴趣、希望改善人们的健康、以及有机会照顾来自不同背景/年龄组的人是足病学学生的主要动机因素。28.1%的足病学学生在学习足病学时遇到了障碍。主题分析确定了七个与职业选择有关的主题，分别是：（i）对专业和实践范围的认识；（ii）对该专业的刻板印象和负面看法；（iii）对职业途径的认识；（iv）工作前景和收入潜力；（v）与人和建立关系；（vi）足病学不是首选；以及（vii）限制学生入学的障碍。
有多种因素激励和影响学生学习足病学，然而，利他主义的原因是最重要的。健康相关专业的学生对足病学的实践范围和职业机会了解有限。此外，足病学专业经常面临负面的刻板印象。需要进一步努力扭转对足病学的负面刻板印象和看法，并增加对该专业实践范围、职业途径/机会、工作前景和收入潜力的了解。
