Factors influencing career choice among optometry students: A questionnaire-based study

Introduction  

Career choice is crucial in shaping one’s life. It not only determines success and prosperity, but also impacts individual satisfaction. Paramedical courses are gaining popularity alongside mainstream medical branches among aspiring students. Paramedical fields are diverse and include technologies in medical laboratory, dialysis, radiology, operation theatre, optometry, audiometry among many others. The qualified individuals perform their duties under the supervision of the medical specialist and are in great demand in the healthcare set up. 

Training in the field of optometry has received a boost after the formation of the Indian Optometry Force, the adoption of measures to oversee education and educational institutions and to register optometrists.^[1] In the routine practice of ophthalmology, an optometrist is often the first contact for the patient. The optometrist is trained to handle ophthalmological equipment from simple vision drums to the more sophisticated ocular scans, conduct ocular tests, dispense optical corrections like spectacles or contact lenses, assist the ophthalmologist in the operation theatre and carry out community-based eye check-up  camps for visual rehabilitation. These responsibilities of the optometrist are often defined by the training undertaken: 2 years diploma or 4 years primary degree in optometry.^[1]

With an increase in awareness about early correction of refractive error, choosing fashionable corrective options and the blooming of optical shops, eye hospitals and optometry schools, an increasing number of students are taking up optometry as their career. The authors conducted this study to explore the factors that influenced the choice of optometry as a career among optometry students in a tertiary care hospital in South India. 

Material and Methods

The questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among the optometry students of a medical college after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. The study followed the ICMR’s National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017) and the participants were enrolled after taking informed consent. The questionnaire consisted of likely reasons for choosing the optometry course and the responses were marked using Likert scale with a few open-ended questions. The questionnaire was validated by five experts and was distributed to the 42 BSc optometry students using Google forms and the census method of sampling.

Results

Discussion

The percentage of girls among the optometry students was as high as 85.71% in this institution and is very likely to be influenced by gender in the local social structure.  A study of young children on career aspirations showed that paramedical courses featured among the top 20 occupations and middle class girls were more likely to choose paramedical courses when compared to boys.^[2] There are no studies on the specific choice of optometry based on gender. In a study in ethnic minorities, it was observed that the awareness among girls about paramedical courses - other than pharmacy - was very low.^[3] However, in this part of the world, higher literacy rates and increased proportion of women taking up jobs may be responsible for greater number of women in optometry despite the course being embedded in specialization in medical technology. A study in the Netherlands has described that the number of girl students taking up courses in technology is as low as 17% since technology seems to be a more male-dominated career.^[4] However, in our study, girls dominated and this may be reflective of the gender role in our society, driving women to pursue higher education. Also, as per the American optometry, the number of women optometrists is likely to increase steadily.^[5]

Career choice is not based on one, but multiple factors. Our study showed that students are influenced by several factors like the course itself, the job opportunities, the social cause, personal aspirations and also influence by others. 

The majority (90%) of students chose their career keeping in mind the overall opinion about the course determined by several features. This was despite the fact that only a few considered it as an easy subject, and a very few were influenced by the institution which runs the course. However, in another study at Pune, the career choice was influenced by the hospital infrastructure and working environment among nearly 90% of the students and alumni of medical technology courses.^[6] It is possible that demographic and social diversity may be the reason for this discrepancy.

In our study, it was seen that 7.5% chose optometry since they had no other career option to choose from. This proportion was much lower compared to the study from South Africa (2011) where 29.5% chose optometry for a similar reason.^[7] It is therefore important for institutions and the teachers to design and transact the curriculum in ways such that even those students who join the course, not by their own choice, will pursue and complete the course with interest and inclination. This may reduce drop-outs from the course and frustration among students. 

Our study revealed that job opportunities outside India (85%) are important influencing factors among students choosing optometry. This was similar to a study conducted in Ghana where 90% of optometry students chose this course because of job availability.^[8]

More students are attracted to job opportunities outside India (85%) than within India (37.5%) paralleling the trend of migration among nurses and other skilled persons - especially from the female gender - to the Middle East countries for jobs, thereby contributing to the Kerala model of economy. A similar trend has trickled into Karnataka.^[9] Since most of our students hail from the districts of South Karnataka and adjoining Kerala, the same trend may be mirrored in the job aspirations of optometry students. More than one-third (40%) perceived that they could get a satisfactory salary/ income. 

In our study, 72.5% agreed that they could set up their own business and 5% because they had a family business of opticals. In a study from India, it was found that one third of the optometrists were engaged in optical shops although many had multiple job engagements.^[10] Optical shops are flourishing in every part of India.

70% of the students agreed that by choosing optometry as a career, they would get an opportunity to provide service to patients with eye problems. The desire to help other people (89.2%) as a factor to choose optometry for a career has also been reported from other studies in Ghana and South Africa (92.5%).^[7], ^[8] Vision is a very cherished “special sense” and therefore serving a person affected with visual problems is considered a noble, altruistic task. In our study, 37.5% believed they could serve like a doctor and 12.5% had an unfulfilled aspiration to become eye surgeons, themselves. This indicates their desire to be of social value to society. Not only is this the aspiration of many optometrists, the Indian eye health industry also in need of the optometry workforce. There is a move to grant an independent healthcare professional status to optometrists which is likely to benefit people across the geographic and socio-economic strata of India.^[1] In our study, more than one-third also considered optometry as a respectable profession and the basis for this respect would be linked to the service provided to patients and the close association of the optometrists with the ophthalmologists.

A sizeable majority believed that a career in optometry would help balance work and family life  (62.5%) and many opined the workload would not be strenuous (37.5%). Optometry is considered to provide a good work-life balance and is suitable for women as they often want to have a career and continue to play a central role in the families.^[5]

Other factors that influenced the option of joining optometry, include suggestions by elders, role models and ophthalmologists in the family and among friends. Studies indicate that family has a big influence on the career choices of students.^[11] Role models have a positive influence on career development, as they tend to enhance goal and work engagement effectively.^[12]

According to our findings, the choice of optometry course is multifactorial and includes, personal aspirations, the nature of the course, the job opportunities and salary and individual influences as evidenced in other studies.^[11], ^[13]

Conclusion

Optometry, as a career option, seems to be preferred by females more than males. Factors influencing the choice of optometry as a career are varied and include personal aspirations, the nature of the course, the job opportunities and economic benefits, and individual influences. It is essential to design the curriculum in such a way that every student is motivated to learn the skills and perform such that the field of optometry thrives.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.