Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of final year Medical, Occupational Therapy and Sport Science students regarding Physiotherapy, in KwaZulu Natal

Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes about physiotherapy has affected its status. In a developing profession whose patient base is still significantly dependent on referral from medical practitioners, certain stereotypic attitudes about it require attention. This study investigated the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of the 2009 final year medical, occupational therapy and sport science students at one university in KwaZulu Natal, regarding physio-therapy. A saturation sample of 292 students from the selected groups was invited to participate in the study. The cross sectional survey used a questionnaire with open and closed ended questions. The data was reduced to percentages and analysed using Chi square tests at p< 0, 05. The overall response rate was 51% with 95% occupational therapy, 71% sport science and only 31% medical students responding. About 74% of the respondents had adequate knowledge about physiotherapy. Seventy five percent of medical and 50% of OT students knew that physiotherapists were first contact practitioners. Over 50% of the respondents who had experienced physiotherapy displayed positive attitudes and felt that physiotherapy was a good career choice. Massage was the best known (95%) and electrotherapy the least known (44%) modality. Orthopedics (88%), sports physio-therapy (84%) and rehabilitation (78%) were better known. We conclude that the response rate to the study especially by medical students is of concern despite the overall positive attitudes displayed by the participants.