Dr Michelle Kaminski1,2,3, Dr Glen Whittaker2, A/Prof Caroline Robinson4, Dr Matthew Cotchett2, Dr Malia Ho3, Prof Shannon Munteanu2, Prof Mollie Dollinger5, Ms Sia Kazantzis6, Dr Xia Li7, Dr Ryan Causby8, Dr Mike Frecklington9, Dr Steven Walmsley10, Prof Vivienne Chuter11, Dr Sarah Casey12, Dr Burke Hugo13, Dr Daniel Bonanno2
1Department of Podiatry, Monash Health, Melbourne,, Australia, 2Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne,, Australia, 3School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne,, Australia, 4School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury,, Australia, 5Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley,, Australia, 6Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne,, Australia, 7Mathematics and Statistics, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne,, Australia, 8Allied Health and Human Performance Unit, University of South Australia, Adelaide,, Australia, 9Department of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, , New Zealand, 10Discipline of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane,, Australia, 11School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown,, Australia, 12Discipline of Podiatry, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown,, Australia, 13Division of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Biography:
Dr. Michelle Kaminski is the Podiatry Research Lead at Monash Health with over 14 years of clinical and research experience in high-risk foot conditions. Michelle is also an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University. Michelle has led several large research projects in the public health and university sectors and is passionate about embedding research into clinical practice and mentoring emerging clinician-researchers. A career highlight was her involvement in developing the Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease, where she served as secretary and first author of the Prevention Guideline.
Abstract:
Background:
Podiatry enrolments at Australian and New Zealand universities have decreased by 17.3% since 2015, threatening the profession's sustainability and healthcare delivery. Reasons for this decline are unclear due to insufficient evidence on factors influencing career choices. This study aimed to identify motivators and barriers for studying podiatry in Australia and New Zealand.
Methods:
A convergent mixed methods design was used. Students in podiatry and relevant non-podiatry health, sport or science programs at nine Australian and one New Zealand university were invited to participate in an online survey. First-year podiatry students were invited to participate in an online workshop. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression models, and qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis by three independent assessors.
Results:
The survey included 278 podiatry students (mean age 24.9 ± 8.5 years, 65.1% female) and 553 non-podiatry students (mean age 24.8 ± 8.2 years, 75.4% female). Seven themes emerged concerning career choice: (i) awareness of profession and scope of practice; (ii) stereotypes and negative perceptions of the profession; (iii) awareness of career pathways; (iv) job prospects and earning potential; (v) working with people and building relationships; (vi) podiatry is not the first preference; and (vii) barriers which limit student enrolment.
Conclusions:
Altruistic motives are key for students pursuing podiatry, but misconceptions and limited understanding of the profession exists among allied health students. Further work is needed to challenge negative stereotypes and perceptions of podiatry, and build knowledge of its scope of practice, career pathways/opportunities, job prospects and earning potential.