Knowledge of Undergraduate Medical Students Regarding Current Physiotherapy Profession

Interdisciplinary teamwork is achieved by recognising and respecting the professional abilities of other team members and understanding how their skills may contribute to client care. In less than a century, the profession of physiotherapy has evolved rapidly extending the scope of its functions, treatments, and settings as well as the responsibilities.

The aim of this study is to find out the first year undergraduate medical students knowledge about current physiotherapy profession.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out using questionnaire in a closed question format to survey the first year under graduate medical students’ accuracy of knowledge and sources of information about physiotherapy.

One hundred and twenty-nine students responded out of 143 students surveyed. Most undergraduate medical students had some knowledge of physiotherapy. The most recognised physiotherapy role was instructs/prescribes a client in exercises (92.4%). Very few students were familiar with the role, gives emotional support to client/family (25.4%). A relatively common misconception was the belief that a physiother apist prescribes medications (63.6%). Very few significant differences in the recognition of individual tasks were found between male and female students.

The first year undergraduate medical students in this study were familiar with physiotherapy services. Some misconceptions existed, which indicates the need for making more accurate information available to first year medical students.