Evaluation of demand for university studies in public health

Aim of the study: to evaluate the demand for university studies in public health among public health students of colleges. Objectives: 1) to evaluate and compare the demand for university studies among public health students of Vilnius and Kaunas colleges; 2) to establish the attitude of college students towards career opportunities for specialists in public health; 3) to evaluate the attitude of college students towards access to higher education. Methods. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in colleges of Vilnius and Kaunas and involved public health students. Settings – Kaunas college (Kaunas University of Applied Sciences) and Vilnius college (Vilnius College of Higher Education), subjects – public health students of all study years, sample size – 290 (64,4% of total population of interest). Data analysis was performed using „SPSS for Windows 15.0“software. Statistical associations were evaluated using chi squared and Z tests. Results. The demand for university studies in public health was 79,8% in Vilnius College and 34,0% in Kaunas College. The majority of public health students in Kaunas College were less determined about subsequent university studies and less keen to undergo equalized studies. Students of Vilnius College were more prone to pursue career in public health and to consider public health as perspective specialty. The access to higher education was perceived by college students rather as limited (47,3% in Vilnius and college 31,1% in Kaunas college), especially for low income persons (77,4% and 54,4%, respectively). Conclusions. More motivation to continue public health studies at university, to undergo equalized studies, and to pursue career in public health was observed among Vilnius than Kaunas college students. Students consider the access to higher education as limited, especially for low income persons. Keywords: public health, Kaunas College, Vilnius College, equalized studies