Motivating factors influencing student paramedic choice of paramedicine as a career

Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed to identify and assess the factors, motivations and influences on undergraduate students’ choice of paramedicine for their studies and ultimately a career in paramedicine.

Methods

A survey was available to 205 first-year Bachelor of Paramedic Science students to assess background, motivational factors and influences on choosing their undergraduate studies.

Results

The response rate to an online survey distributed to 205 students yielded an almost 25% response rate (n=51). Altruistic factors were the main reason students chose to study for a degree in paramedic science and ultimately a career in paramedicine. Although essential, extrinsic, sociodemographic and interpersonal factors were less motivating factors. Despite other research suggesting media coverage leads to increased student enrolments, the media coverage of paramedics as frontline health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘lights and sirens’ effect of ambulance/paramedic reality television shows as influences were not highly regarded.

Conclusion

The altruistic factors influencing career choices in paramedicine are generally similar across the healthcare industry. In this review, the motivating nature of extrinsic, interpersonal and sociodemographic factors was generally inconclusive. However, these factors may well apply to a university’s initial recruitment strategy and as a factor for ambulance services to consider when identifying the motivating factor of a student paramedic to join the workforce.