Selection of Cardio Respiratory Physiotherapy Specialty as a Career Option: Students’ Perspective

The growth and development of physiotherapy is influenced significantly by the professional abilities and potential of new graduates. The move towards specialization in health care professions is raising the practice standards according to clinical specialties. Cardio respiratory physiotherapy is an area of practice that has expanded dramatically over last few decades. This study examined students’ perception towards cardio-respiratory physiotherapy.

A questionnaire posed survey was conducted among 150 undergraduate physiotherapy students.

60% of respondents were positive about the importance of physiotherapy in the management of patients with cardio respiratory problems.13% stated a high intention to work with cardio respiratory patients after graduation and 38% were not sure. 37% of students said that they would consider specializing in cardio respiratory physiotherapy. 57% of respondents expressed negative ratings regarding perceived level of competency to treat patients with cardio respiratory problems. 67% reported that clinical experience influences their attitude the most followed by expert role model (18%). The choice for musculoskeletal specialty was more (90%) followed by neurology (87%) and then cardiorespiratory (47%).

Our findings show that students had a positive view of the importance of cardio respiratory physiotherapy. However, a small number stated an intention to specialize for master level education. Work oriented towards improving the up gradation of cardio respiratory rehabilitation with advanced skills would potentially enhance the specialties attractiveness and hence skilled role models should be made available to deliver this service.