Abstract
Background: Enrollment in respiratory care (RC) programs continues to be a concern with entry-to-practice programs. Enrollment in RC programs was down 4.5% in spring 2021 and has declined by 27% since 2010. Additionally, there has been a 3.29% decrease in enrollment at the undergraduate level. Combined with the projected loss of 92,474 RTs by 2030, the need for targeted recruitment is important.
Methods: During the spring 2023 application period for the on-campus entry-to-practice program at Boise State University, data were gathered about where and how students had heard about the field and the program. After IRB approval, the data were retrospectively analyzed to identify where and how students were learning about the program.
Results: The responses for 46 student applications were reviewed. 22 (48.9%) applicants only followed the department on Instagram, 2 (4.4%) applicants only followed the department on Facebook, 8 (17.8%) applicants followed the department on Instagram and Facebook, 8 (17.8%) applicants do not follow the department on social media, and 5 (11.1%) applicants were not on social media. In 2022-2023, marketing ads were run on Facebook and Instagram. 60.9% of applicants recalled seeing a social media ad on Instagram (48%), Facebook (2%) and both Instagram and Facebook (11%) within the last 12 months. 39% of applicants did not recall seeing an ad on social media. When applicants were asked where they heard about the Boise State RC program, 78% stated their advisor through the College of Health Sciences, 37% medical terminology course, 30% on Google, 15% experience with respiratory therapists in the hospital, 18% on Instagram, and 30% through community outreach opportunities that included program visits to high schools and a program open house. On average, applicants were exposed to the program from one to nine sources with an average of 2.8.
Conclusions: Academic advisors play a large role in student recruitment into the entry-to-practice respiratory care program. We need to continue to build strong relationships with our academic advisors. Social media continues to play a large role in capturing students interested in respiratory care, with Instagram being the most popular platform in this set of applicants. Priority should be placed on creating more of a presence on Instagram for individual programs and the profession. Additional research needs to be done to identify ways to recruit respiratory care students.
Where are applicants hearing/seeing Boise State Respiratory Care?
What Social Media Platforms are Most Popular for Boise State Respiratory Care?
Footnotes
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