Purpose: To determine the accuracy of college students' knowledge on physical therapy, and how these students have attained this knowledge. Subjects: 192 undergraduate students at Nova Southeastern University, Barry University, and the University of Miami. Method: Students in general Psychology classes filled out a questionnaire on physical therapist job duties and methods of exposure when they returned for school last Fall. Analysis of variance, crosstabs, and chi-square statistics were utilized. Results: Students who were pre-physical therapy majors had a higher number of correct responses on physical therapy job duties than those who were not pre-PT. However, it was shown that most job duties were well known by all subjects in the sample. Some misconceptions do exist regarding wound care and the prescription of medication. Television was shown to be the primary method of exposure the students had to physical therapy. Conclusion: Schools must be provided with current, factual literature which can lead interested students to additional resources. This can help stimulate a possible pool of applicants for physical therapy programs and increase public knowledge of the profession.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
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| Original language | English |
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