The journey through an undergraduate occupational therapy course: Does it change students’ attitudes, perceptions and career plans?

Students’ attitudes towards people with a disability, their perceptions of the characteristics of a successful occupational therapist, and their future career plans were surveyed on entry to and exit from the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Factors impacting on students’ career plans were also examined. Questionnaires were administered to 84 students on the first day of the course in 1994 and to 59 students on the last day of the course in 1997. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise and compare the data. While generally positive on entry to the course, students’ attitudes were even more positive on completion. Entry and exit perceptions of the characteristics considered important to being a successful occupational therapist were closely aligned with the values and ideals of the profession. At both survey points, students indicated a reluctance to pursue work in non‐metropolitan areas and in psychosocial, research and academic fields. Clinical placements and particular clinicians were identified as having the greatest impact on students’ career plans. These findings provide support for the notions that student self‐selection into occupational therapy may assist in bringing aware students to the course and that clinical experiences during the course serve as potent influences on future career plans. Tailored use of the processes of socialisation within occupational therapy courses may assist in attracting therapists to particular geographical and clinical areas.