Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Title

Factors Influencing College Students' Knowledge of Physical Therapy

Authors

Marcy Rabhan, 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

Marcy Rabhan. 1998. Factors Influencing College Students' Knowledge of Physical Therapy. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department. (177)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/177.

Abstract

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.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy