Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T07:44:08.887Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

High School Allied Health Students and Their Exposure to the Profession of EMS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2012

Joshua B. Holloman  and
Michael W. Hubble
Joshua B. Holloman*
Affiliation:
Emergency Medical Care Program, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina USA
Michael W. Hubble
Affiliation:
Emergency Medical Care Program, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina USA
*
Correspondence: Joshua B. Holloman, MHS 240 Walnut Creek Drive Clayton NC 27520 USA E-mail joshholloman@aol.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

Ensuring a stable Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workforce is a growing concern, and effective recruiting strategies are needed to expose young adults to the EMS profession. The objective of this study was to assess the exposure of high school allied health students to EMS as a career option, as well as measure their attitudes and beliefs about the EMS profession.

Hypothesis

Few high school allied health students are exposed to EMS educational and career opportunities.

Methods

A convenience sample of allied health students in a rural high school system was surveyed about exposure to EMS, career intentions, factors impacting career decisions, and attitudes and beliefs about EMS. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and intention to pursue an EMS career was modeled using logistic regression.

Results

Of 171 students enrolled in allied health courses across six high schools, 135 (78.9%) agreed to participate; 85.2% were female. Almost all (92.6%) respondents intended to pursue a health career, but only 43.0% reported that their allied health course exposed them to EMS as a profession. Few participants (37.7%) were knowledgeable about EMS associate degree or baccalaureate degree (27.4%) programs. Only 20.7% of the respondents intended to pursue EMS as a career, although 46.0% wanted to learn more about the profession. Most (68.2%) students expressed interest in an emergency medical technician (EMT) course if one were offered, and 80.0% were interested in a ride-along program. Independent predictors of pursuing an EMS career included exposure to EMS outside of high school (OR = 7.4, 95% CI = 1.7-30.4); media influence on career choice (OR = 9.6, 95% CI = 1.8-50.1); and the belief that EMS was mentally challenging (OR = 15.9, 95% CI = 1.1-216.6). Negative predictors included the beliefs that an EMS career was stimulating (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.00-0.53) and physically challenging (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.00-0.63); as well as prior exposure to an EMS job advertisement (OR = 0.14, 0.03-0.53).

Conclusions

Overall, there was a lack of exposure to career and educational options in EMS among allied health students in the school system studied, and few students intended to pursue an EMS career after graduation. However, the majority of students indicated they would like to learn more about EMS, and would enroll in an EMT course and ride-along program if available. These findings suggest that, with exposure to the profession, more allied health students could choose EMS as a career.

Holloman JB, Hubble MW. High school allied health students and their exposure to the profession of EMS. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(3):1-7.

Keywords

careerEmergency Medical ServicesEMSparamedicprehospitalprofession
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , June 2012 , pp. 245 - 251
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. EMS workforce for the 21st century: a national assessment. http://www.ems.gov/pdf/EMSWorkforceReport_June2008.pdf. Published June 2008. Accessed September 21, 2010.Google Scholar
2. Ball, L. Setting the scene for the paramedic in primary care: a review of the literature. Emer Med J. 2005;22:896-900.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Hubble, MW. Baccalaureate emergency medical services education in North Carolina: history, challenges, and opportunities. NC Med J. 2007;68(4):255-258.Google ScholarPubMed
4. Patterson, PD, Probst, JC, Leith, KH, Corwin, SJ, Powell, MP. Recruitment and retention of emergency medical technicians: a qualitative study. J Allied Health. 2005;34(3):153-162.Google ScholarPubMed
5. Mishoe, SC, Valeri, KL, Beveridge, LH. A survey of high school seniors’ career choices: implications of allied health. J Allied Health. 1993;22(1):33-43.Google ScholarPubMed
6. Al-Kandari, FH, Lew, I. Kuwaiti high school students’ perceptions of nursing as a profession: implications for nursing education and practice. J Nursing Edu. 2005;44(12):533-540.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Bumgarner, SD, Means, BH, Ford, MJ. Building bridges: from high school to health care. J Nurses Staff Dev. 2008;19:18-22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Matutina, RE. Recruiting middle school students into nursing. J Sch Nurs. 2008;24(3):111-115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Wirecenski, J, Wircenski, M, Nimon, K. Cultivating nursing career connections in K-12 education: a vital force in priming the post-secondary nursing education pipeline. J Nurses Staff Dev. 2008;24(5):E1-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Cohen, R, Burns, K, Frank-Stromborg, M, Flanagan, J, Askins, DL, Ehrlich-Jones, L. The kids into health careers initiative: innovative approaches to help solve the nursing shortage. J Nursing Ed. 2006;45(5):186-189.Google ScholarPubMed
11. Hoke, J. Promoting nursing as a career choice. Nursing Economics. 2006;24(2):94.Google ScholarPubMed
12. Hubble, MW, Paschal, KR, Sanders, TA. Medication calculation skills of practicing paramedics. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2000;4(3):253-260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Dickison, P, Hostler, D, Platt, TE, Wang, HE. Program accreditation effect on paramedic credentialing examination success rate. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2006;10(2):224-228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Slater, M, ller, E. A program to prepare minority students for careers in medicine, science, and other high level professions. Acad Med. 1991;66(4):220-225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Keller, BK, Whiston, SC. The role of parental influences on young adolescents’ career development. Jour Career Assessment. 2008;16(2):198-217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Rossiter, JC, Foong, A, Chan, PT. Attitudes of Hong Kong high school students towards the nursing profession. J Nur Ed Today. 1999;19(6):464-471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed