Career orirentation and related factors of final year students in Preventive Medicine and Public Health at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Abstract

A cross - sectional study was conducted among 104 public health and preventive medicine senior students at the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The study’s objectives are to describe the career orientation of study subjects and find out several factors related to their career orientation. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Results show that a career orientation was present in 56.7% of the students, and of those, 28.8% of subjects believed that the Covid-19 pandemic will alter their intended career path. A majority of students expected to work at units under the Department (65.4%), local routes (61.5%). The majority of students had trouble understanding their employment role. Students were more likely to understand where their career will be located if they had relatives who worked in the health sciences (OR = 3.439; 95% CI 1.232 – 9.602) and felt qualified for their major (OR = 3.238; 95% CI 1.244 – 8.430). The factors of “job preferences,” “learning experience,” “competency for the job fit,” “prestige of work,” “development opportunities,” “opportunities to participate in scientific research,” “Stable work,” and “Easy to apply for jobs,” as well as “flexible working time,” “having time for yourself and your family,” and “High income,” significantly influenced students’ career orientation. To assist students have better work orientation in the future, career orientation counseling sessions and informational seminars are required.