Department of occupationnal therapy, School of health science, Kyusyu University of Health and Welfare
Abstract
In this paper we compare the motivations, views on life and pre-course knowledge of occupational therapy among entering students from the year 1999 and 2008. In 1999 a total of 49 students were enrolled and in 2008 a total of 42 students were enrolled. Informed awareness of the subject area increased significantly between 1999 and 2008 (p<0.01), which followed a similar trend of the nation. Students who entered in 2008 had increased information about occupational therapy from their high school teachers. We also found the later period student sought advice from enrolled students and that location was a greater factor in their enrollment decision. For students entering in 2008 there was a shift in their focal concerns. We used the Basic Quality of Life Scale (BAQL) to quantify differences between the groups and found differences in levels of desire, confidence, lifestyle and social networks between the groups
