Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40691626›Full record

ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2025

Student Perspectives on Marketing the Podiatry Profession and Course Promotion: A Mixed Methods Study.

Michelle R Kaminski, Caroline Robinson, Glen A Whittaker, Malia Ho, Daniel R Bonanno, Shannon E Munteanu, Mollie Dollinger, Sia Kazantzis, Xia Li, Ryan S Causby and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Michelle R KaminskiDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1133-4853
Caroline RobinsonSchool of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia.
Glen A WhittakerDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Malia HoSchool of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Daniel R BonannoDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Shannon E MunteanuDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Mollie DollingerFaculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
Sia KazantzisMelbourne School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Xia LiMathematics and Statistics, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Ryan S CausbyAllied Health and Human Performance Unit, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Mike FrecklingtonDepartment of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Steven WalmsleyDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Vivienne ChuterSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Sarah L CaseyDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Matthew CotchettDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Funding

Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe decline in podiatry student enrolments at universities across Australia and New Zealand presents a workforce crisis that threatens the profession's sustainability and the delivery of essential healthcare services to communities. Recent data highlight a limited understanding of the podiatry profession among allied health students. There is now a clear need for strategies to address negative stereotypes and to build knowledge of the profession's scope of practice, career opportunities, job prospects and earning potential. As part of a larger research initiative, this study explored student perspectives on marketing the podiatry profession to increase student enrolments.

methodsA convergent mixed methods study design was employed. Participants included students enrolled in (i) podiatry and (ii) relevant 'non-podiatry' health, sport or science programs at nine Australian universities and one New Zealand university. Data were collected via an online survey (278 podiatry students and 553 non-podiatry students responding) and two online workshops with nine first-year podiatry students. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression models, while qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis by three independent assessors. We integrated the data by exploring the connections between the quantitative and qualitative findings.

resultsFindings revealed that over 40% of podiatry students had initial concerns about their course and 34.2% had considered leaving. Instagram and Facebook were identified as the most influential social media platforms for sourcing information about courses and careers. Four over-arching themes emerged as important marketing strategies for increasing student enrolments: (i) enhance the visibility, perception and advocacy of podiatry; (ii) emphasise holistic and diverse practice in podiatry; (iii) enable early exposure and experience of podiatry practice and (iv) improve course entry pathways and flexibility.

conclusionsAn evidence-based approach is required to enhance the visibility and appeal of podiatry as a career. Strategies should focus on addressing misconceptions about the discipline, expanding promotional efforts to broader audiences, leveraging relevant media platforms, reducing financial and academic barriers for prospective students, and improving study flexibility. Strengthening enrolments and reducing attrition are fundamental to ensuring the sustainability and growth of the podiatry profession in Australia and New Zealand.

Indexed as

MarketingPodiatryStudents, Health OccupationsAdultAustraliaCareer ChoiceFemaleHumansMaleNew ZealandSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adultcareer choicehealth workforcemarketingpodiatrystudents

Identifiers

PMID40691626
PMCPMC12279468

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.