The relationship between pathway programs and student pursuit of physical therapy careers

Limited diversity among physical therapists throughout the United States warrants exploration of avenues to enhance representation across the profession and, ultimately, improve population health. Pathway programs are arguably a means of supporting and recruiting underrepresented minority (URM) students into the physical therapist profession. The purpose of this investigation was to explore whether meaningful relationships exist between URM status, pathway program participation, and student pursuit of careers as licensed physical therapists. A total of 139 first-year post-Baccalaureate, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students participated in the research investigation. Among study participants, 45.3% were URM students and 54.7% were non-URM students. Participants completed an online survey involving self-report of grade point average (GPA), graduate record examination (GRE) percentile rankings, and reflections on pathway program experiences. Student GPA leading into entry-level DPT program application was not influenced by URM status or pathway program participation. The relationships between pathway program participation and the three sections of the GRE were inconsistent, yet promising signs of pathway program benefit to GRE performance among some URM students were evident. All students with pathway program experience demonstrated greater career interest development, self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, and goal representations. Pathway programs appear to be a viable avenue through which a diverse composition of individuals may be ushered into the licensed physical therapist profession.