Abstract
Background: Given the current global public health challenges and the potential outbreak of a pandemic in the future, the career choice of postgraduates majoring in public health is of great significance to public health development in society. The existing research mainly focuses on the analysis of the current situation and training mode of postgraduates. This study aimed to analyze the employment status of postgraduates majoring in public health in the Yangtze River Delta region of China using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle model and propose suggestions for improvement.
Methods: Postgraduates majoring in public health from universities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui were selected as research participants through a questionnaire survey. The survey content included information on socio-demographic characteristics, practice and employment intentions, employment cognition, and satisfaction. A chi-square test was used to analyze differences in the distribution of industry cognition under different baseline characteristics, and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing the distribution of industry cognition.
Results: Overall, 290 individuals were included in the analysis (average age: 26.16±2.21 years). Regarding public health industry awareness, 193 individuals (66.6%) were in the low-score group, and 97 (33.4%) were in the high-score group. The results of multi-factorial logistic regression analysis showed that study participants with a higher annual household income had a poorer perception of the public health industry (odds ratio [OR]=0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.503–0.973), graduated in 2021 and later (OR=5.231, 95% CI: 1.906–14.358), and specialized in the five major health professions (OR=2.199, 95% CI: 1.223–3.954). Study participants with lower annual household income had a higher perception of the public health profession. Graduate students in public health have a negative attitude towards the current situation and employment situation in the public health industry and believe that the epidemic has had a negative impact on employment. They face problems such as an insufficient match between internships and employment and increased employment pressure.
Conclusions: Based on our findings, we propose strengthening the connection between internship and employment, providing career planning courses and psychological counseling services, and increasing practice and internship opportunities.