Greg Ernst1, Ashley Belrose, Jetta Eckhardt, Whitney Hild, Lisa Rodriguez. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MSC 6247, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Tel 210-567-8757, fax 210-567-8774. ernstg@uthscsa.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if a week-long summer day camp for high school students to learn about various healthcare professions could influence the students' perceived self-efficacy and knowledge of healthcare careers related to sports medicine. Additionally, we investigated if there was a relationship between level of parent education and the participants' self-efficacy scores before and after camp. SUBJECTS: We recruited 13 male and 13 female (n=26) students from five area high schools with an average age of 15.8 yrs (range, 15 to 17 yrs). Participants were predominantly of Hispanic origin. METHODS: A pre- and post-intervention survey was used to collect participants' demographic data and to assess participants' perceived self-efficacy towards the healthcare field and their knowledge of different healthcare careers. A paired, two-tailed t-test was used to determine if perceived self-efficacy scores before and after the camp differed. A linear regression analysis was run to determine if parental education was a predictor for the difference in self-efficacy scores. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between perceived self-efficacy scores before and after the camp. Parental education was not found to be a significant predictor for the difference in participants' self-efficacy scores. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that attendance at a summer program that allowed students to learn about and interact with various healthcare professionals significantly improves perceived self-efficacy towards pursuing a career in the healthcare field. Parental education may not be a predicting factor for the change in perceived self-efficacy after attendance at such educational camps.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if a week-long summer day camp for high school students to learn about various healthcare professions could influence the students' perceived self-efficacy and knowledge of healthcare careers related to sports medicine. Additionally, we investigated if there was a relationship between level of parent education and the participants' self-efficacy scores before and after camp. SUBJECTS: We recruited 13 male and 13 female (n=26) students from five area high schools with an average age of 15.8 yrs (range, 15 to 17 yrs). Participants were predominantly of Hispanic origin. METHODS: A pre- and post-intervention survey was used to collect participants' demographic data and to assess participants' perceived self-efficacy towards the healthcare field and their knowledge of different healthcare careers. A paired, two-tailed t-test was used to determine if perceived self-efficacy scores before and after the camp differed. A linear regression analysis was run to determine if parental education was a predictor for the difference in self-efficacy scores. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between perceived self-efficacy scores before and after the camp. Parental education was not found to be a significant predictor for the difference in participants' self-efficacy scores. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that attendance at a summer program that allowed students to learn about and interact with various healthcare professionals significantly improves perceived self-efficacy towards pursuing a career in the healthcare field. Parental education may not be a predicting factor for the change in perceived self-efficacy after attendance at such educational camps.