Introduction / Rationale: Podcasts have grown in popularity as an educational tool, offering a scalable method for disseminating information, building community, and enhancing self-efficacy. They may also facilitate parasocial relationships with podcast guests, which can support intrinsic and affective behavior change strategies. Podcasts therefore constitute an innovative educational modality capable of facilitating accessible and engaging learning experiences. Despite their potential, podcasts are underutilized in occupational therapy (OT) education, largely due to a lack of practical guidance for implementation.
Objectives: This research evaluates how a podcast intervention enhances first-year and second-year entry-level OTD students' career readiness by improving awareness, confidence, and perceived competence in emerging and innovative practice areas (E/IPA).
Methods / Approach: Eighty-seven first-year and second-year OT students participated in a cohort study, listening to five E/IPA-focused podcasts over a period of five weeks as a course requirement. Pre/post-tests measured changes in awareness, confidence, and competence, and a linear regression analysis examined learning outcomes and demographic correlations.
Results / Practice Implications: Podcast exposure significantly increased awareness and confidence, particularly among first-year students (awareness OR=37.33). Gender effects were non-significant. These findings suggest podcasts are an effective tool for enhancing career readiness, increasing exposure to E/IPA roles, and addressing gaps in access to role models and emerging practices.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: Podcasts are an innovative and effective modality for preparing OT students for diverse career paths. The results of this research provide support for integrating podcasts into OT curricula to career readiness and support students in navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.