Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Title

Physical Therapy Students' Perceptions of the Value of the Pre-Admission Physical Therapy Experience

Authors

Randee Goldstein, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1998

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

Randee Goldstein. 1998. Physical Therapy Students' Perceptions of the Value of the Pre-Admission Physical Therapy Experience. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department. (117)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/117.

Abstract

Purpose: To look at how the social contact theory can be applied to pre-admission experience in determining how the quality of the students' experiences have an affect on their PT education.

Subjects: Graduating students from two physical therapy programs in Florida.

Method: A self-generated questionnaire designed to measure the quality and quantity of physical therapy students' pre-admission experience and the benefits of the experiences.

Results: The results of frequency distributions showed that on average 49% of the subjects refer to their pre-admission experience all the time or often in order to: understand a concept, visualize a patient's injuries, visualize a patient's presentation of an illness, understand insurance and billing, and learn a skill. Chi Square analysis resulted in significant relationships between the amount of time spent performing or assisting patient treatment and four out of five level of agreement statements on overall view of the profession and all statements on frequency of referring to pre-admission experience. Significant relationships were also found between amount of time spent interacting with patients and one level of agreement statement and two statements on frequency of referring to pre-admission experience. Significant relationships were also found between amount of time spent interacting with patients and one level of agreement statement and two statements on frequency of referring to pre-admission experience.

Conclusions: If more time is spent treating or assisting patient treatment during pre-admission experience then, the experience will have more influence on the student's views of the profession and their learning experience during their PT education.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy