Abstract
The population of the United States is becoming more culturally diverse; however, the profession of occupational therapy does not reflect this change, whether examining educators, practitioners, or students. This study was designed to identify factors influencing graduate students of diverse backgrounds, and how a career in occupational therapy was determined. Participants for this study comprised first- and second-year occupational therapy students enrolled at Lenior-Rhyne University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem State University. A convenience sample was used to obtain the population. These universities were the only graduate-level occupational therapy programs willing to participate in the study. The schools offer a pool of one hundred and two diverse participants. Students selected occupational therapy as a career due to the availability of employment, having the opportunity to work in a healthcare profession, and earning a good salary. African American and minority students decided to pursue a career in occupational therapy during their undergraduate studies, while Caucasians decided to pursue occupational therapy as a career before their undergraduate studies. As a result, African Americans and minorities were not exposed to the profession as early as Caucasians.
Recommended Citation
Lucas, J. T., Fogg, S., & Lynch, M. (2024). Factors Influencing Graduate Students of Diverse Backgrounds in Their Selection of Occupational Therapy as a Career. The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors, 26(2). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/jramp/vol26/iss2/1
Included in
Medical Education Commons, Occupational Therapy Commons, Public Health Commons, Social Justice Commons