Career Choice after Graduation among Physiotherapy Students Attending Public Universities in Malaysia

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Students always find it difficult to choose what they want to do after graduation despite having spent a solid three to four years of study and faced multiple challenges to graduate. There is evidence suggesting a great number of physiotherapy students chose not to work as a physiotherapist after graduation. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the career choice after graduation and factors influencing career choices in physiotherapy students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on final-year undergraduate physiotherapy in four public universities offering physiotherapy courses in Malaysia. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of three main sections: demographic information, career choice, and factors influencing career choice after graduation. Results: Of 120 respondents, not even half (i.e., 57 [47%]) intended to work as a physiotherapist, as low as 26 (22%) intended to further study and as high as 37 (31%) were undecided or had no plan at all. The main factors that influenced their choice to work were previous working experience (15 [26%]), family members (11 [19%]), and the intention to serve the community (9 [16%]), while the choice to further study was influenced by the desire to further physiotherapy knowledge (19 [40%]) and enter a profession that requires a specific qualification (7 [15%]). Age, current study level (diploma/bachelor’s degree), and previous educational background, were found to be associated with career choices (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the final year bachelor’s degree students intended to work while diploma students intended to further study. Age, current program, and previous education background, were highly associated with the students’ career choice.