Perceptions of physiotherapy as a possible career choice among prospective university students in Nigeria
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Date
2018-04
Authors
Akodu, A.K
Akinfeleye, A.M
Nwajueboe, A,C
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Taibah University medical sciences, Elsevier
Abstract
Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the
preferences of students in selecting physiotherapy as a career
choice and the factors that play key roles in their selection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 297 subjects
ranging from 14 to 21 years of age was conducted among
prospective university students. They were recruited from
seven secondary schools in selected local government
areas of Lagos state using a purposive sampling technique.
A 14-item questionnaire, comparing physiotherapy
to 11 selected occupations on six dimensions,
that is, level of physical stress, salary, usefulness to society,
responsibility, social status, and personal recognition
as well as investigating factors considered important
in selecting a career, was adapted from relevant literature.
The data was analysed using mean, standard deviation,
and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance.
Results and discussion: The responses of 184 males
(62.0%) and 113 females (38.0%) were used in the data
analysis of this study. Physiotherapy was ranked fourth
in terms of level of physical stress, third in terms of
salary, fifth in terms of usefulness, fourth in terms of
responsibility, fourth in terms of social status, and fourth
in terms of personal recognition. Overall, physiotherapy
was rated as the fourth-most preferred occupation. Prospective
university students perceived physiotherapy as
having a high level of occupational prestige, rating it
fourth after medicine, engineering, and law.
Conclusions: The profession of physiotherapy is held in
high esteem and is seen as a desirable career choice
among Nigerian high school students.
Description
Keywords
Occupational prestige , Physiotherapy , Prospective university students
Citation
Akodu, A. K., Akinfeleye, A. M., & Nwajueboe, A. C. (2018). Perceptions of physiotherapy as a possible career choice among prospective university students in Nigeria. Journal of Taibah University medical sciences, 13(4), 355-363.