Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Care Career Interests Among High School Students.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school students' interest in health-care careers. METHODS: A voluntary web-based survey, approved by the Medical College of Wisconsin's Institutional Review Board, was administered across eight high schools in Milwaukee and its suburbs in Wisconsin. The survey collected students' demographic details, opinions on the health-care system's pandemic response, and their interest in health-care careers before and after the pandemic. RESULTS: Out of 2,949 respondents, 29.9% were already contemplating a health-care career before the pandemic, with 27.7% indicating increased interest thereafter. Students not previously interested in health-care careers registered an 11.5% increase in interest due to the pandemic. Notably, the pandemic significantly boosted health-care career interest among females and freshmen. DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has distinctly influenced high school students' interest in health-care careers, notably among females and freshmen. This finding has implications for addressing projected health-care professional shortages.

Student-Designed Cross-Sectional Pandemic Knowledge Survey of 8th-12th Grade Students, Milwaukee, WI, April 2020.

Background: The novel coronavirus and its effect on our society are unprecedented. Given the recent pandemic, numerous measures have been taken to protect our communities. We sought to understand our school community's knowledge and the measures that were taken by our school for our safety. Objective: Our objective was to describe the overall understanding and attitudes of 8-12th grade students from a single institution during the initial phase of the Wisconsin's Governor's stay-at-home order. Methods: A voluntary web-based survey was communicated to 8-12th grade students through their online school portal. Data were collected and analyzed using SurveyMonkey. Results: There was a 20.2% response rate. Answers regarding the coronavirus, spread, and response to the coronavirus pandemic showed a high level of understanding of the virus and the actions necessary to prevent its spread. Conclusion: Eight-twelfth grade students have a high level of understanding of the virus, its effects, and the safety measures implemented to protect society.