title: Evaluation of high-school health science careers program impact on student retention and careers.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to longitudinally measure the impact of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Health Related Professions high-school Health Science Careers program on student retention in health careers. Students (n = 1,218) who earned college credit in the program from 1996 to 2002 were surveyed. The response rate was 17% of the total and 21% of the deliverable surveys. Students were equally distributed between vocational, comprehensive, and academy-type schools. Ninety-seven percent of the students continued their education after high school, with 70% attending 4-year colleges. Forty-nine percent of those entering 2-year colleges and 57% of those entering 4-year colleges pursued health-related careers. Ninety-five percent perceived the Health Science Careers program as valuable. The findings suggest that the Health Science Careers program was helpful in guiding students toward health-related professions. The evaluation helped to understand the impact and to realize the positive and negative aspects of the program by the respondents.
authors.affiliation: Health Science Careers Program, School of Health Related Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076, USA. zavattli@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zavattieri
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.forename: Julie O'Sullivan
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Maillet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009515:New Jersey; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000639:trends; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*