Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Application to Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs

This study uses data from the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) to compare influences on application to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs between White applicants and people of color (POC)-applicants who identified as Black, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander.

This is a retrospective study using holistic narrative analysis. PTCAS data for the 2020 to 2021 application cycle were obtained, including essays and demographic data. Random samples were drawn such that 736 total applicants to PTCAS were included: 372 White applicants and 364 POC applicants. Using categories previously described in the literature, 3 reviewers coded application essays into as many influence categories as applied. Interrater reliability was evaluated on a sample of 12 essays, using Cohen kappa between reviewer pairs and a total arithmetic mean. Chi-square was used to test for difference between groups, based on Bonferroni correction.

Personal experience with physical therapy (53.8% for White applicants, 54.9% for POC applicants), observation of the field (68.5% for White applicants, 71.2% for POC applicants), and alignment with values and interests (62.9% for White applicants, 67.3% for POC applicants) were the most common influences. Applicants of color were more likely to indicate a desire to bring services back to their community of origin, formative experience in health care based on race, and paid work experience in the field. Interrater reliability was excellent (.869).

Applicants in the POC group were primarily influenced toward pursuing DPT education by personal interaction with physical therapy and alignment of the field with their values. They were more likely than their White peers to have racially based health care experiences, paid work in the physical therapy field, and a desire to provide services to their community.

Providing opportunities for people from racial and ethnic minority groups to experience physical therapy through equitable access to physical therapist care, observation hours, internships, or paid work experience may improve enrollment of more diverse cohorts.