A glimpse into the future: a survey of the expectations and ambitions of Australian health information management students

The future of the health information management profession is largely dependent on the ability of educational programs to attract high-caliber students who have a clear understanding of their future career when entering their course and who aspire to become active members of the profession after graduation. A sample of Australian health information management students was surveyed to obtain information about satisfaction with their career choice, employment options, and intended involvement in professional and postgraduate education activities. The survey looked for differences between the responses of students at different stages of their courses and changes in student responses over time. The majority of students believed that they had made the correct career choice. There was a general preference for nontraditional health information management employment positions on graduation and a strong commitment to professional involvement and postgraduate education. Significant differences in some questionnaire responses were found among the student groups. Students' responses to questionnaire items about their future careers were less likely to change compared with other questionnaire items. Implications of the results for the health information management profession and educational institutions are discussed.