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Hall M1, Mori B2, Norman KE3, Murphy S4, Proctor P5, Bredy H1
1University of Alberta, Physical Therapy, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2University of Toronto, Physical Therapy, Toronto, Canada, 3Queens University, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Kingston, Canada, 4University of British Columbia, Physical Therapy, Vancouver, Canada, 5University of Saskatchewan, Physical Therapy, Saskatoon, Canada
Background: Physiotherapy is a diverse and expanding profession with many employment options for physiotherapy students upon graduation. Research evidence suggests that physiotherapy students are more likely to pursue a career in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and less likely to work in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. It is reported that academic and clinical education role models and experiences may influence physiotherapy students' decisions about career path and employment; however, these have not been explored in Canadian physiotherapy graduates nor have other factors associated with employment decisions been investigated.
Purpose: The primary purpose of this multiple methods study was to explore Canadian physiotherapy graduates' decisions about employment and career choice by developing and administering a national survey.
Methods: This study employed a multiphase survey research design organized in four phases. Following focus groups and interviews with new graduates, an online survey instrument was developed. Open and closed-ended questions were included pertaining to the practice setting (e.g. hospital, rehabilitation facility, private practice) and the area of practice (e.g. orthopaedics, neurology) in which new graduates choose to work as well as the reasons for working for a particular employer. Following pre-testing, the survey was administered to 1442 recently graduated, English speaking physiotherapists in six Canadian provinces. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: 352 recent physiotherapy graduates responded to the survey (response rate 24%). 71% of respondents were female, 79% worked full time in physiotherapy, and 61% had an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. 62% of respondents reported having been offered a job prior to completing their physiotherapy degree and most physiotherapists (80%) reported working in a private practice setting with patients with an orthopaedic problem. Exposure to a specific area of practice or practice setting while on clinical placement was the most important factor in deciding on career path during academic program. Graduates sought out employment with a specific employer primarily due to the desired practice setting and desired area of practice, followed by seeking mentorship from an experienced clinician. Those who completed a clinical placement at the facility in which they were later hired reported that the experiences on placement and the support of their supervising physiotherapists at the facility were extremely influential in deciding to seek employment with that organisation.
Conclusion(s): Practice setting and area of practice contribute most to new graduate decisions about career path and employment, followed by mentorship from experienced clinicians. Experience during clinical placement was an extremely influential factor in deciding to seek employment with that organisation.
Implications: Physiotherapists are drawn to work primarily in certain practice settings and with specific patient populations. Employers looking to recruit new graduate physiotherapists may consider providing clinical placement experiences for students during their academic education and establishing structured mentorship programs as these may be the deciding factors in whether new graduates choose to work for their organisation.
Keywords: Career decisions, Survey, Clinical education
Funding acknowledgements: This project was supported by a grant from the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada
Purpose: The primary purpose of this multiple methods study was to explore Canadian physiotherapy graduates' decisions about employment and career choice by developing and administering a national survey.
Methods: This study employed a multiphase survey research design organized in four phases. Following focus groups and interviews with new graduates, an online survey instrument was developed. Open and closed-ended questions were included pertaining to the practice setting (e.g. hospital, rehabilitation facility, private practice) and the area of practice (e.g. orthopaedics, neurology) in which new graduates choose to work as well as the reasons for working for a particular employer. Following pre-testing, the survey was administered to 1442 recently graduated, English speaking physiotherapists in six Canadian provinces. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: 352 recent physiotherapy graduates responded to the survey (response rate 24%). 71% of respondents were female, 79% worked full time in physiotherapy, and 61% had an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. 62% of respondents reported having been offered a job prior to completing their physiotherapy degree and most physiotherapists (80%) reported working in a private practice setting with patients with an orthopaedic problem. Exposure to a specific area of practice or practice setting while on clinical placement was the most important factor in deciding on career path during academic program. Graduates sought out employment with a specific employer primarily due to the desired practice setting and desired area of practice, followed by seeking mentorship from an experienced clinician. Those who completed a clinical placement at the facility in which they were later hired reported that the experiences on placement and the support of their supervising physiotherapists at the facility were extremely influential in deciding to seek employment with that organisation.
Conclusion(s): Practice setting and area of practice contribute most to new graduate decisions about career path and employment, followed by mentorship from experienced clinicians. Experience during clinical placement was an extremely influential factor in deciding to seek employment with that organisation.
Implications: Physiotherapists are drawn to work primarily in certain practice settings and with specific patient populations. Employers looking to recruit new graduate physiotherapists may consider providing clinical placement experiences for students during their academic education and establishing structured mentorship programs as these may be the deciding factors in whether new graduates choose to work for their organisation.
Keywords: Career decisions, Survey, Clinical education
Funding acknowledgements: This project was supported by a grant from the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada
Topic: Education; Professional issues
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Alberta
Ethics committee: Research Ethics Board
Ethics number: Pro00062704
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
