Examining DPT Programs' Use of Technology for Student Recruitment
Location
Lions Eye Center
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
28-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
28-4-2025 1:30 PM
Description
Introduction and Purpose: Diversity of the physical therapy workforce has been slowly improving to serve diverse patient populations. Emerging evidence suggests that technology-based strategies may enhance efforts to recruit and educate students about programs. However, it is unclear how DPT programs use technology in recruitment. Therefore, this study aims to explore DPT programs' use of technology to aid recruitment, specifically of underrepresented minority (URM) students. Methods: This study analyzes how 48 DPT programs in the Southeast US use technology for recruitment. Data were collected on demographics, social media presence, program and profession information, recruitment activities, and resources specific to URM students. Data were analyzed to determine frequencies, means, and percentages. Results: Program demographics: 91.67% traditional format 37.74% located in Texas, 33.96% offering URM grants or scholarships, and average cohort of 48 students. All programs utilize websites and 77.36% utilize social media platforms to display community engagement, student achievement, and DEi initiatives. Within programs' web-based presence, two-thirds display one/multiple minority representation images and 10-20% incorporate resources influential to URM students. Discussion: Although DPT programs advanced in utilizing technology, most are underutilizing effective recruitment strategies to attract prospective URM students. Programs can increase URM student recruits by implementing web-based recruitment strategies to highlight programs' unique offerings, admissions and physical therapy information, and display sincere commitments to diversity initiatives. Utilization of web-based technology is one strategy that may contribute to physical therapy becoming more representative of the communities it serves.
Recommended Citation
Guilbeau, Easton, "Examining DPT Programs' Use of Technology for Student Recruitment" (2025). School of Allied Health Professions Research Day. 9.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/ahrd/2025/posters/9
Examining DPT Programs' Use of Technology for Student Recruitment
Lions Eye Center
Introduction and Purpose: Diversity of the physical therapy workforce has been slowly improving to serve diverse patient populations. Emerging evidence suggests that technology-based strategies may enhance efforts to recruit and educate students about programs. However, it is unclear how DPT programs use technology in recruitment. Therefore, this study aims to explore DPT programs' use of technology to aid recruitment, specifically of underrepresented minority (URM) students. Methods: This study analyzes how 48 DPT programs in the Southeast US use technology for recruitment. Data were collected on demographics, social media presence, program and profession information, recruitment activities, and resources specific to URM students. Data were analyzed to determine frequencies, means, and percentages. Results: Program demographics: 91.67% traditional format 37.74% located in Texas, 33.96% offering URM grants or scholarships, and average cohort of 48 students. All programs utilize websites and 77.36% utilize social media platforms to display community engagement, student achievement, and DEi initiatives. Within programs' web-based presence, two-thirds display one/multiple minority representation images and 10-20% incorporate resources influential to URM students. Discussion: Although DPT programs advanced in utilizing technology, most are underutilizing effective recruitment strategies to attract prospective URM students. Programs can increase URM student recruits by implementing web-based recruitment strategies to highlight programs' unique offerings, admissions and physical therapy information, and display sincere commitments to diversity initiatives. Utilization of web-based technology is one strategy that may contribute to physical therapy becoming more representative of the communities it serves.