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How Do Students Come across Occupational Therapy and What Makes Them Want to Study Occupational Therapy? Implications for Recruitment

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Title: How Do Students Come across Occupational Therapy and What Makes Them Want to Study Occupational Therapy? Implications for Recruitment
Language: English
Authors: Mette Eg Bruun, Mette Krohn, Sofie Balle Riis, Lene Tanggaard, Tina Helle
Source: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 2026 10(1).
Availability: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Occupational Therapy, Career Choice, Allied Health Personnel, Allied Health Occupations Education, Rural Urban Differences, College Students, Vocational Interests, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Denmark
ISSN: 2573-1378
Abstract: Recruitment challenges in occupational therapy education vary globally. To address workforce needs, it is necessary to examine the factors influencing students' decisions to pursue occupational therapy. This study investigated how students discovered occupational therapy, what they found appealing about the profession, the influence of study location, and demographic differences between students enrolled in an urban university city and a rural district. Three focus group interviews with 15 occupational therapy students were conducted, supplemented by descriptive statistics comparing student characteristics across urban and rural programs. Qualitative analysis identified five categories: (1) discovering occupational therapy by chance, (2) the power of occupational therapy, (3) the whole person; an all-in-one profession, (4) opportunities and freedom to change trajectory over time, and (5) place of study and life conditions matter. Descriptive statistics revealed minor but noteworthy differences between urban and rural cohorts. Most students encountered occupational therapy coincidentally. Accordingly, recruitment strategies should be oriented towards outreach initiatives and encouragement of individuals with pertinent professional interests and qualifications. Students are drawn to occupational therapy's transformative and holistic nature, its potential for meaningful change, and the flexibility to shift specialties. Effective recruitment requires tailored approaches that highlight these strengths while addressing age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic context to broaden the appeal of occupational therapy education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502363
Database: ERIC
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  Data: How Do Students Come across Occupational Therapy and What Makes Them Want to Study Occupational Therapy? Implications for Recruitment
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mette+Eg+Bruun%22">Mette Eg Bruun</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mette+Krohn%22">Mette Krohn</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sofie+Balle+Riis%22">Sofie Balle Riis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lene+Tanggaard%22">Lene Tanggaard</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tina+Helle%22">Tina Helle</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Occupational+Therapy+Education%22"><i>Journal of Occupational Therapy Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 10(1).
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  Data: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
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  Data: 25
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+Therapy%22">Occupational Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Personnel%22">Allied Health Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Urban+Differences%22">Rural Urban Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+Interests%22">Vocational Interests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Denmark%22">Denmark</searchLink>
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  Data: Recruitment challenges in occupational therapy education vary globally. To address workforce needs, it is necessary to examine the factors influencing students' decisions to pursue occupational therapy. This study investigated how students discovered occupational therapy, what they found appealing about the profession, the influence of study location, and demographic differences between students enrolled in an urban university city and a rural district. Three focus group interviews with 15 occupational therapy students were conducted, supplemented by descriptive statistics comparing student characteristics across urban and rural programs. Qualitative analysis identified five categories: (1) discovering occupational therapy by chance, (2) the power of occupational therapy, (3) the whole person; an all-in-one profession, (4) opportunities and freedom to change trajectory over time, and (5) place of study and life conditions matter. Descriptive statistics revealed minor but noteworthy differences between urban and rural cohorts. Most students encountered occupational therapy coincidentally. Accordingly, recruitment strategies should be oriented towards outreach initiatives and encouragement of individuals with pertinent professional interests and qualifications. Students are drawn to occupational therapy's transformative and holistic nature, its potential for meaningful change, and the flexibility to shift specialties. Effective recruitment requires tailored approaches that highlight these strengths while addressing age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic context to broaden the appeal of occupational therapy education.
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  Data: 2026
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Occupational Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Urban Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational Interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Denmark
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      – TitleFull: How Do Students Come across Occupational Therapy and What Makes Them Want to Study Occupational Therapy? Implications for Recruitment
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            NameFull: Mette Eg Bruun
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            NameFull: Mette Krohn
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              Y: 2026
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