The career choice of first year occupational therapy students: A follow up study

Abstract

This study replicated a survey of first-year occupational therapy students at Brunel University (Craik et al 2001) and 114 students (91.2%) responded. Their profile was similar to that of the students in the previous study, with 90% being female, 65% being over 21 years of age and 20% coming from minority ethnic groups. The most frequent way that the students had heard about occupational therapy remained through informal means, with variety and challenge continuing to be the most important factors in attracting potential students to the profession. The results of this study, taken with those of Craik et al (2001), provide data on 444 first-year students and further emphasise the importance of occupational therapists in encouraging recruitment to the profession