Purpose: This study sought to document the opinions of physical therapists concerning the burn care education received in entry-level physical therapy programs. Subjects: Respondents included 196 physical therapist members of the APTA who graduated from accredited United States physical therapy programs in the year 1996. Method: A 13-question survey was sent to 300 subjects consisting of questions including the time spent in burn care education, opinions of necessity of this training in physical therapy programs, and the number of patients with burns treating in clinical affiliations and post graduate employment. Results: Approximately 50% of students saw patients with burns in clinical affiliations and 48% of graduates saw patients with burns within their first 20 months of practice. The majority of respondents indicated that they were not comfortable in their abilities to treat patients with burns following graduation and that they felt further study should be implemented in the clinical and didactic education of entry-level programs. Conclusion: Exposure of physical therapy students to patients with burns in clinical affiliations increases interest in burns and raises comfort levels in treatment skills.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
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| Original language | English |
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