eprintid: 7116
rev_number: 4
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/00/71/16
datestamp: 2011-11-10 19:37:03
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:40:05
status_changed: 2011-11-10 19:37:03
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: jennifersponsler@gmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Sponsler, Jennifer L.
creators_email: jennifersponsler@gmail.com
title: Assessment of the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Healthcare: Student Knowledge, Attitudes and Career Interest
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords: adolescents; health career education programs; healthcare careers; program assessment; qualitative methods
abstract: There is an increased need for educational programs about health careers as evidence shows the number of American students pursing advanced degrees in science and healthcare continues to decrease. The Pennsylvania Governor's School for Healthcare, a summer residential program for high school students, is designed to introduce participants to various health careers, teach students about the research process and the nature of scientific inquiry, facilitate project-based learning, refine critical thinking skills, and foster positive interactions with practicing physicians and other health professionals. Assessment instruments such as exit surveys and focus groups were developed and used to capture data on student satisfaction with the program, the influence of its curriculum on student knowledge, attitudes and awareness of various health careers and to what degree the program affected or changed student career interest. Results indicated that the majority of students felt the program increased their knowledge and awareness of heath careers and influenced their future career choice in a health profession. Student participation in healthcare curriculum, activities and interactions with health professionals provided them with a positive hands-on experience. Overall, students were highly satisfied with the program. The Pennsylvania Governor's School for Healthcare significantly influenced the interest and future goals of its participants in their desire to pursue a career in healthcare. Research outcomes will be given to the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Healthcare as a program improvement tool for future programs. The relevance of public health in this thesis is to promote educational programs about health related careers as a viable method of successfully initiating and/or maintaining a student's interest in the health professions.
date: 2007-06-26
date_type: completed
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Terry, Martha Ann
etdcommittee_name: Nicoll, Joanne
etdcommittee_name: Jaros, Kenneth
etdcommittee_name: Goodman, Robert M
etdcommittee_email: materry@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: Nicoll@cidde.pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: kjaros@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: rmg16@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: MATERRY
etdcommittee_id: NICOLL
etdcommittee_id: KJAROS
etdcommittee_id: RMG16
etd_defense_date: 2007-04-06
etd_approval_date: 2007-06-26
etd_submission_date: 2007-04-13
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2011.7116
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
committee: Martha Ann Terry (materry@pitt.edu) - Committee Chair
committee: Joanne Nicoll (Nicoll@cidde.pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Kenneth Jaros (kjaros@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Robert M. Goodman (rmg16@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
etdurn: etd-04132007-212818
other_id: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04132007-212818/
other_id: etd-04132007-212818
citation:   Sponsler, Jennifer L.  (2007) Assessment of the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Healthcare: Student Knowledge, Attitudes and Career Interest.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/7116/1/sponslerjl_etd2007.pdf