Factors Affecting Discipline Choice in Students of Medical Records and Health Information Technology in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Year 2010

Introduction: Higher education administrators believe that discipline choice method could be an important motivator to continue study. The field of health information technology in BS level which is a specialized field in health area was introduced by elimination of medical records associate degree. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting field choice among students of medical records and health information technology in 2010. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the population included students of medical records and health information technology in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Study was conducted through census in which 50 students (12 newly admitted students of health information technology and 38 senior students who had chosen this field under the title of “medical records”) were willing to participate. Questionnaire developed by researcher was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using Chi2 and the significance level was p<0.05. Results: Students of both disciplines had minute knowledge about the content of their field at the time of discipline choice. Only 25 percent (N=3) of students of health information technology and 15.8 percent (n=6) of medical records students stated that had chosen their major based on their knowledge. The role of parents in discipline choice of health information technology was 50 percent (n=6) and it was 18.4 percent (n=7) in medical records. The effect of native city on discipline choice is 15.8 percent (n=6) for students of medical records and 53.8 percent (n=7) for students of health information technology. According to Chi2, knowledge about the discipline content among students of medical records and health information technology, (p= 0.004) was significantly different. Conclusion: Students of medical records and health information technology had a minute knowledge about the content of their discipline and their parents highly influenced their choice. Therefore it is recommended to train parents as well as students if there would be an endeavor to enhance people’s knowledge about university discipline.