Sources of influence for choosing an operating department practitioner career: Findings from a questionnaire among students in England.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the sources of influence which impact choosing an operating department practitioner career among current operating department practitioner students in England to inform recommendations for maximising recruitment and retention.

Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to allied health professional, inclusive of operating department practitioner, students in England in 2021.

Results: One hundred and fifty operating department practitioner students attending undergraduate courses completed the questionnaire.

Motivations, sources of influence and barriers to being a podiatrist: a national questionnaire of student views.

Background: Podiatry is an allied health profession which has seen a substantial decline in numbers in recent years. Every effort is required to recruit more students to reverse this diminishing supply and meet national foot health needs. To increase the number of applications to podiatry courses and encourage individuals to choose podiatry careers, the aim of this study was to understand the key motivations, sources of influence and barriers to choosing a podiatry career among current podiatry students, and consider the influence of choosing podiatry before or after a first career.

Assessment of advanced clinical practitioners.

To continue growing the advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) role nationally, and similar roles internationally, there must be widely held trust in the level of practice and the roles worked in service by ACPs. This requires infrastructure to support ACPs through their training and ensure they are fit to qualify. This short report focuses on an evaluation of assessment processes in the acute sector in a county in England, to understand their feasibility and suitability.