Understanding Student Preferences in the Selection of a Graduate Allied Health Program: A Conjoint Analysis Study. 2020

Matthew M Anderson, and Andrew N Garman, and Tricia J Johnson, and Louis Fogg, and Surrey M Walton, and Douglas Kuperman
Administrative Affairs, School of Health Professions, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Tel 210-567-4841, fax 210-567-4828. Andersonm5@uthscsa.edu.

OBJECTIVE As the healthcare landscape rapidly changes, graduate allied health programs must position themselves to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals in a highly competitive landscape. No studies have directly measured the relative importance of attributes in program selection by prospective healthcare students. METHODS We surveyed graduate healthcare management program applicants in the 2018 admissions cycle (n=512) to determine which attributes were most important in program choice. We utilized conjoint analysis to estimate utilities and importance scores of six attributes: program ranking, cost, work experience, geography, distance to home, and salary. We then conducted a market simulation to predict relative market share of academic programs. RESULTS The most important attribute to prospective students was the projected starting salary, with US News and World Report ranking and tuition cost the second and third most important attributes, respectively. Each attribute was relatively inelastic respective to tuition cost. CONCLUSIONS While future leaders placed the most value on earnings when selecting a program, they also valued rankings and cost. By focusing on these factors, programs can target their marketing efforts to recruit the best potential future healthcare leaders, while this method can be replicated to gauge the most important relative attributes for a variety of healthcare professions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D003258 Consumer Behavior Behavior associated with the procurement of goods, services, or experiences. Consumer Preference,Consumer Satisfaction,Behavior, Consumer,Behaviors, Consumer,Consumer Behaviors,Consumer Preferences,Preference, Consumer,Preferences, Consumer,Satisfaction, Consumer
D004500 Education, Graduate Studies beyond the bachelor's degree at an institution having graduate programs for the purpose of preparing for entrance into a specific field, and obtaining a higher degree. Graduate Education,Educations, Graduate,Graduate Educations
D005260 Female Females
D006270 Health Facility Administrators Managerial personnel responsible for implementing policy and directing the activities of health care facilities such as nursing homes. Administrator, Health Facility,Administrators, Health Facility,Facility Administrator, Health,Facility Administrators, Health,Health Facility Administrator
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012456 Salaries and Fringe Benefits The remuneration paid or benefits granted to an employee. Fringe Benefits,Wages,Paternity Benefits,Pay Equity,Salaries,Benefit, Fringe,Benefit, Paternity,Benefits, Fringe,Benefits, Paternity,Equities, Pay,Equity, Pay,Fringe Benefit,Paternity Benefit,Pay Equities,Salary,Wage
D013334 Students Individuals enrolled in a school or formal educational program. School Enrollment,Enrollment, School,Enrollments, School,School Enrollments,Student
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults

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