Factors influencing the career choice of students pursuing medical laboratory science training

Keeping, David W. (2006) Factors influencing the career choice of students pursuing medical laboratory science training. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (5MB)

Abstract

The medical laboratory science profession in Canada is projecting a human resource shortage. The purpose of this exploratory study is to identify those factors which influenced the career decision-making choices of medical laboratory science students. -- A purposive sample of 17 students in a Newfoundland and Labrador medical laboratory science program were recruited and participated in semi-structured interviews. Preliminary findings from these interviews were validated through a respondent focus group. The constant comparison method was used in analyzing the data and deriving a conceptual framework describing the factors which influenced the selection of medical laboratory science. -- The results suggest the following conceptual categories represent important factors which influenced the career decision-making of medical laboratory science students: candidate personal interest; occupational characteristics; educational characteristics; resources; influential people; recruiting efforts; and baccalaureate degree educational programs. These factors have significant implications for the medical laboratory science profession, post-secondary system, policy-makers, and career counseling in efforts to promote medical laboratory science and address future health human resource shortages.

Actions (login required)

View Item