Factors Influencing Minority Studentsʼ Choice of Physical Therapist Education Programs

Background and Purpose. The physical therapy profession does not reflect the racial and cultural diversity of the United States. It is necessary for education programs to focus on improving recruitment of minority applicants to address the shortage of minority physical therapists and to reap the educational benefits of a diverse student population. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing minority student choice of professional (entry-level) physical therapist education programs. Subjects. The participants included students enrolled in the first professional year of an accredited physical therapist education program. Methods. A survey instrument was developed based on literature and interviews with physical therapist students and faculty members. Face and content validity were acceptable. Using a 5-point Likert scale, subjects rated the influence of 51 items on their selection of a specific physical therapist education program. Stratified random cluster sampling was applied to select 66 professional physical therapy programs from a population of 150. Results. The return rate was 66%. Results indicated subjects identifying themselves as minority ranked 3 categories higher than nonminority students when selecting a physical therapist education program: (a) cost of the program; (b) ethnic, cultural, and gender considerations; and (c) physical therapist education program faculty. Discussion and Conclusion. Factors influencing minority student program choice differ from those influencing nonminority students. Physical therapist education program administrators may use the results of the study to develop recruitment programs focusing on minority applicants.