Increasing Minority Representation in the Health Professions

Abstract

Research indicates that health disparities may be reduced by increasing the number of ethnic minorities working in health occupations. Establishing health career pathway programs for immigrant and ethnic minority students is one way to address this problem. One such program, Cross-Cultural Education in Public Health (CCEPH), was developed, implemented, and evaluated to determine whether participants expressed greater interest in pursuing health care careers after program completion. A sample of 72 immigrant students in two high schools participated in the program, which was based on Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. Data were gathered using pre- and postprogram surveys that measured academic self-efficacy and career consideration. Results for academic efficacy were not statistically significant, but interest level in health care careers rose substantially. Although further research needs to be conducted to determine whether such programs increase self-efficacy, programs such as CCEPH can increase the consideration of health careers among immigrant and ethnic minority students.