Attitudes of environmental and occupational health students toward their field of study and future career in Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Detection of the factors that influence environmental health students' attitudes could help us to set regulations, providing adequate facilities, training qualified and competent health workers and is effective to create a passionate environment in the College. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of environmental health and occupational health students towards their education and career in Ardabil University of medical sciences. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 100 students were selected among environmental health and occupational health students enrolled in the first semester of the 2014-15. The Data were collected by using the questionnaire of University of Minnesota containing 17 questions with Likert scale. The Data were analyzed by using SPSS-16 software. FINDINGS: The mean score of attitude towards future career in environmental health and occupational hygiene students was 52.5±9.86 and 52.8±8.1, respectively. The mean score of attitude towards future career in studied students was higher than that of the acceptable score. Moreover, minimum and maximum scores of the attitude in environmental heath students were 26 and 71, respectively, and these values for occupational hygiene students were 41 and 70, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the results, students had a positive attitude towards their education and future career. Adjusted number of students accepted in the field of environmental health and occupational health, proper distribution of human resources, helping students to know more about academic disciplines before the entrance exam of universities and provide consultation and supporting them to clarify their education and job prospects can improve their attitudes.