Abstract / Description of output
Aims and objectives: To identify the factors that are associated with considering a career in mental health.
Background: The mental health specialty is facing a recruitment crisis in the United Kingdom but there is limited evidence about which factors encourage and discourage people to consider a career in mental health.
Design: Quantitative, observational, online survey using a multiple ordinal logistic regression model to identify if there were any significant predictors of the extent to which participants would consider a career in mental health. The design and write up of the study were guided by the STROBE checklist.
Method: We gathered the views of 231 participants (female = 188, 81.7%) aged between 16 and 65 (mean = 22.7, SD = 8.9), using an online survey, the majority of whom were studying on, or graduates of, psychology/social studies degrees. Information was gathered about the extent to which a range of factors influenced consideration of a career in mental health.
Results: The majority (71.2%) of participants reported that they would definitely or probably consider undertaking a career in mental health, and over half (51.4%) would consider a career as a mental health nurse. The ability to help others and receiving appropriate training required for the role were important career choice factors. Being female, having a mental health condition, and greater knowledge of mental health, were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of considering a career in mental health, while having had experience of working with people with mental health difficulties was significantly negatively associated.
Conclusions: Students and graduates of psychology and social studies degrees appear to be a large, untapped recruitment pool for mental health services.
Relevance to clinical practice: The results can inform more targeted recruitment strategies and development of suitable career pathways for those interested in a career in mental health.
Background: The mental health specialty is facing a recruitment crisis in the United Kingdom but there is limited evidence about which factors encourage and discourage people to consider a career in mental health.
Design: Quantitative, observational, online survey using a multiple ordinal logistic regression model to identify if there were any significant predictors of the extent to which participants would consider a career in mental health. The design and write up of the study were guided by the STROBE checklist.
Method: We gathered the views of 231 participants (female = 188, 81.7%) aged between 16 and 65 (mean = 22.7, SD = 8.9), using an online survey, the majority of whom were studying on, or graduates of, psychology/social studies degrees. Information was gathered about the extent to which a range of factors influenced consideration of a career in mental health.
Results: The majority (71.2%) of participants reported that they would definitely or probably consider undertaking a career in mental health, and over half (51.4%) would consider a career as a mental health nurse. The ability to help others and receiving appropriate training required for the role were important career choice factors. Being female, having a mental health condition, and greater knowledge of mental health, were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of considering a career in mental health, while having had experience of working with people with mental health difficulties was significantly negatively associated.
Conclusions: Students and graduates of psychology and social studies degrees appear to be a large, untapped recruitment pool for mental health services.
Relevance to clinical practice: The results can inform more targeted recruitment strategies and development of suitable career pathways for those interested in a career in mental health.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Nursing |
| Early online date | 24 Jul 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 24 Jul 2020 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- recruitment
- mental health
- nursing
- staff
- barriers
- facilitators