The impact of COVID-19 on health professions student's perceptions, future education and career aspirations and confidence in public health responses

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 1412 - 1418
• Main Authors: Gamber, Michelle, Henderson, Danielle, Ruelas, Dulce María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 12.06.2024; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Aspiration; Career aspirations; Continuing education; COVID-19; curriculum; Education; Educational Experience; Graduate students; health careers; health education; health professions; Health status; Medical personnel; Occupational Aspiration; Online Surveys; Pandemics; Perceptions; Polls & surveys; Public health; Student Interests; COVID-19; health education; curriculum; health careers; health professions
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2077111

Objective: To understand student perceptions, interest and intentions of pursuing public health as a result of COVID-19 during educational experiences. Participants: Two hundred seventy-seven students completed the survey representing 38 states and two countries. Methods: An online survey was administered to current undergraduate and graduate students at two institutions. Results: The difference between the ease of attaining a public health job for nonpublic health and public health students was significant prior to (p = .002) and during the pandemic (p = .015). There was an increase of 5.8% in student interest in continuing education in public health. 13% of respondents agreed the pandemic had been handled appropriately at the national level and 33% at the state level, and 57% expressed distrust of future responses. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a positive influence of COVID-19 on the desire to seek further education and careers in public health, highlights a lack of confidence in effective future pandemic responses.