Career aspirations and factors influencing career choices of optometry students in Ghana

Abstract

Optometry students in clinical years are usually faced with the challenges of making a career choice in or outside optometry. This cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the career aspirations of optometry students in Ghana. All students in their fourth to sixth year who consented to participate in the study responded to a questionnaire which explored: demographic characteristics, career aspirations, and factors influencing their choices. Descriptive statistics was used to present data as frequencies, proportions and percentages. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate relationships between variables. Two hundred and nine students from the two optometry training institutions in Ghana; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (49.8%) and University of Cape Coast (51.2%) responded to the questionnaire. The mean (SD) age of students was 23.6 (1.9) years (males = 65.6%). On seeking admission into the university, optometry (65.6%) and human biology/medicine (28.2%) were the leading first choice programmes among participants. Participants largely aspire to be in clinical practice (64.6%) or Academia/Research (28.2%). The major factors which influenced career choices were interest in career field (64.1%) and potential good income (38.3%). Females were twice more likely to practice optometry and pursue an interest in paediatric optometry than males. Institution of study (p = .028) and information on career opportunities (p = .018) were significant predictors of students' decision to pursue a career in academia/research. Optometry students in Ghana largely aspire to be in clinical practice, a finding which is useful for optometry training institutions and relevant stakeholders in developing the optometry programme and projecting its future in Ghana.

Public vs. private job dilemma: Influencing factors in career selection for university graduates

“…From the theoretical understanding of Homans [ 25 ], it is articulated that individuals think critically about their perceived ‘costs’ and ‘benefits’, including social, economic, and cultural issues, when selecting a career. Kobia-Acquah, Owusu [ 18 ], for instance, found that optometry students in Ghana chose their career considering the benefits, including potential income and flexible working hour, while Rispel, Ditlopo [ 17 ] observed that health professionals in South Africa, when selecting a career, emphasized on the betterment of community through humanitarian activities as well as job security and good payment. Others, however, suggest that future career prospects and opportunities, including prestige, promotion as well as financial/monetary incentives, and working conditions, such as working hours and flexibility, are the prime determinants of career choices of individuals [ 19 , 28 – 30 ].…”

Topical review: Task shifting and the recruitment and retention of eye health workers in underserved areas

“…In one study, student optometrists in Ghana, asked specifically to consider rural working, reported being motivated by opportunities that provided good remuneration, further study scholarships, adequate living conditions, and clear career progression 23 . A further study 24 found Ghanaian optometry students were attracted to their career by the prospect of adequate income and good work-life balance but also reported that their main aspiration was to be involved in clinical work. A study of qualified optometrists in Ghana confirmed the findings that the most important motivational factors in their career were good work-life balance and acceptable remuneration alongside adequate supervision and opportunities for continuing education 27 .…”

“…Six studies focused on recruitment and retention of eye care workers. Most were in the context of the aspirations of optometry students [23][24][25][26] but also included motivation and satisfaction of current optometrists. 27,42 Although these findings are not specific to task shifting, the results can help understand the general motivation of optometrists.…”

“…22 The recruitment and retention of optometrists can be challenging. [23][24][25][26][27] In 2016, the World Health Organization produced strategic guidelines for all countries to achieve improvement in human resources for eye health that included optimizing health worker motivation, satisfaction, and retention, as well as equitable distribution and equitable performance. 11 Recruitment is the ability to offer attractive, adequately remunerated, consistent work and to place health workers into those positions.…”

Second cycle students’ program choice and their aspired programmes at the tertiary level

“…Students are generally influenced by social expectations with regard to the type of careers male and females pursue (Amo-Brown, 2017) [11] . Kobia-Acquah, Owusu, Akuffo, Koomson and Pascal (2020) [34] found that females were twice more than males chose programmes related to pediatric optometry. Similarly, Al-Bahrani, Allawati, Shindi, Bakkar and Alsiyabi (2020) also revealed that females have higher scores on suitable programme choice than their male counterparts.…”