The relationship between education and career dropout and career change in the field of health care

Abstract

The choice of topic was inspired by thirty years of experience in the profession and the changes that have occurred during this time. Examining the relationship between education and career abandonment and career change in the field of healthcare and finding an alternative to the shortage of professionals. The research and its processing can explain the low number of qualified workers in the Hungarian healthcare system. A quantitative questionnaire survey was conducted among students in the healthcare field. 200 full-time and adult healthcare students currently enrolled in the study were included in the study in Budapest and 3 rural towns in the 2023/2024 academic year. A 1-month deadline was available for completion. Using a quantitative method, with online questionnaire sampling. Using Google Forms, 23 questions were asked, which included 13 closed-ended questions, 1 semi-closed-ended question and 9 Likert-scale definitions. They had to rate their answers to the questions from 1 to 5, where one meant very dissatisfied and five meant very satisfied. The processing of the questionnaire can help understand the reasons for career abandonment and career change and can show if these reasons include shortcomings in training. The research investigated whether insufficient knowledge or missed career orientation, insufficient knowledge of the profession when choosing a career could cause the current severe shortage of professionals in healthcare, as well as career abandonment and career change after training. The hypotheses concerned this, as well as the lack of financial and moral appreciation, which is also present in public consciousness, as the cause of the problem. Descriptive statistical analysis, career orientation, and familiarization with the profession are the keys to keep students in their future careers. The respondents were between the ages of 14 and 51 years old. The number and proportion of students participating in adult education is exceptionally high. When assessing the training, the number of satisfied people who rated it as good or excellent was very high (average of ratings: 4.33). The students who completed the questionnaire considered that the vocational instructor was competent in the given field (average of ratings: 4.52). It is encouraging that a significant number of respondents do not plan to leave their careers (160 people) or change careers (131 people). The lack of financial (average of ratings: 3.87) and professional (average of ratings: 3.6) appreciation is significantly felt in the responses. A significant number of students in the training do not plan to work abroad after completing their studies.