Career Choices, Motivations, and Further Education of Final-Year Students Studying at Health Vocational Schools

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our research was to assess the factors affecting health career choices, motivations, and students' intentions for further education.

METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted between May 1, 2023, and October 23, 2023, at Hungarian schools (Social and Health Technical School and Vocational School of the University of Pécs, the PTE Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Technical School in Szombathely, and the Bugát Pál Technical School in Székesfehérvár). The sample was selected with non-probability convenience sampling and included students attending health vocational schools in grades 12-15 (N=223). Data collection was carried out with a self-administered questionnaire measuring socio-demographic data, factors affecting career choice, motivations, further education and plans. The results were analysed using IBM SPSS 25 and Microsoft Excel 2016 statistical software. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, χ² tests, and confidence intervals were calculated (p<0.05).

RESULTS: Of the surveyed students, 84.75% (n=189) were female and 15.25% (n=34) were male. Mean age of the sample was 24±9.45 years. Mean career choice attitude scores of students participating in post-secondary education (36.51 points) were higher than those of students in pre-secondary education (33.96 points) (p<0.05). Students with higher career choice attitude scores (36.93 points) were more motivated to pursue further education compared to those with lower scores (33.42 points) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Most students were driven by a desire to help others, which played a significant role in their decision to pursue a career in health. It would be beneficial to organize open days that not only introduce the schools but also allow students to observe actual teaching sessions.