Factors associated with enrollment in allied health education programs: Development of a predictive scale

The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to a student's decision to enroll in college/university allied health education programs. The secondary purpose was to create a scale that can be used by colleges and universities to assess decision-making among prospective and current allied health education students. METHODS: We identified factors and developed the scale in 4 stages: 1) review of the literature, 2) focus group studies, 3) pilot testing, and 4) administration of the scale and testing of measurement properties. Research participants (n = 1,123) were students enrolled in allied and non-allied health education programs in Tennessee. RESULTS: In exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, this study identified six factors linked to the decision to enroll in allied health education programs: personal influence, social influence, academic preparation, career opportunity, individual aspiration, and self-efficacy. Discriminant function analyses further revealed that these factors predicted program enrollment status. CONCLUSION: Although this scale may not be generalizable to all allied health education fields, it may assist universities and colleges in targeting and recruiting students into their allied health education programs. © 2011 Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions.