Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Care Career Interests Among High School Students. J Adolesc Health 2024 Mar;74(3):621-624
Date
12/10/2023Pubmed ID
38069934DOI
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.10.022Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85179484922 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
PURPOSE: This study investigates the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school students' interest in health-care careers.
METHODS: A voluntary web-based survey, approved by the Medical College of Wisconsin's Institutional Review Board, was administered across eight high schools in Milwaukee and its suburbs in Wisconsin. The survey collected students' demographic details, opinions on the health-care system's pandemic response, and their interest in health-care careers before and after the pandemic.
RESULTS: Out of 2,949 respondents, 29.9% were already contemplating a health-care career before the pandemic, with 27.7% indicating increased interest thereafter. Students not previously interested in health-care careers registered an 11.5% increase in interest due to the pandemic. Notably, the pandemic significantly boosted health-care career interest among females and freshmen.
DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has distinctly influenced high school students' interest in health-care careers, notably among females and freshmen. This finding has implications for addressing projected health-care professional shortages.
Author List
Vasudev K, Vasudev E, Lee C, Neumann AA, Regner A, Simpson PM, Dasgupta M, Fletcher KEAuthor
Kathlyn E. Fletcher MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AttitudeCareer Choice
Female
Humans
Pandemics
Students, Medical
Surveys and Questionnaires
