Secondary school students’ knowledge of physiotherapy as a profession

Authors

  • Stanley M. Maduagwu Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
  • Emelda Braimoh Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
  • Chidile Muonwe Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
  • Chuka Umeonwuka Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
  • Cornelius M. Ishaku Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
  • Ali Alhaji Modu Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
  • Chiamaka Ann Nwanne Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
  • Beatrice C. Maduagwu Department of Education, Faculty of Education, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220825

Keywords:

Career choice, Cross-sectional survey, Health occupations, Nigeria, Physiotherapy, Students

Abstract

Background: Physiotherapy plays a significant role in the health care system. The pursuit of a career in any profession by secondary school students depends largely on the availability of information about the practice and prospects of the profession. This study aimed at investigating whether secondary school students know about physiotherapy as a profession.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey involving eight hundred and two senior secondary school students in Maiduguri. Multi-stage and systematic random sampling techniques were used in selecting thirty schools in Maiduguri whose students participated in this study. A 37-item questionnaire from previous literature comprising of socio-demographic characteristics of participants, knowledge of participants about physiotherapy as a course, knowledge of participants about physiotherapists’ tasks and characteristics, and sources of their information about physiotherapy, was adapted for this study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Responses of eight hundred and two participants, 446 female and 356 males with a mean age of 16.90±2.22 were included in this study. More than half of the participants (59.1%) had a high knowledge of physiotherapy as a career. The most common sources of information about physiotherapy were from a family member (48.5%), a movie (54.7%), and the school career counsellor (54.5%).

Conclusions: Half of the participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge of physiotherapy as a profession whereas a good number seemed to have little or no knowledge about the physiotherapy profession. The physiotherapy professional body should work towards increasing the level of knowledge of physiotherapy practice by creating avenues for career talks and awareness programs.

 

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Dissanayaka TD, Banneheka S. Awareness in physiotherapy among high school students. Int J Sci Res Pub. 2014;4.

Edwards K, Quinter M. Factors influencing students career choices among secondary school students in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya. J Emerg Trends Educ Res Policy Stud. 2011;2.

Ogiwara S, Nozoe M. Knowledge of physiotherapy: A study of Ishikawa high school students. J Phys Ther Sci. 2005;17.

Gotlib J, Białoszewski D, Sierdziński J, Jarosz MJ, Majcher P, Barczyk K, et al. A comparison of the perceptions and aspirations of third-year physiotherapy students trained in three educational settings in Poland. Physiotherapy. 2010;96:30-7.

Greenwood N, Bithell C. Perceptions of physiotherapy compared with nursing and medicine amongst minority ethnic and White UK students: implications for recruitment. Physiotherapy. 2005;91:69-78.

World Confederation for Physical Therapy. What is physiotherapy? Available at: https://world.physio/ resources/what-is-physiotherapy. Accessed on 31 August 2020.

Balogun JA, Aka P, Balogun AO, Obajuluwa VA. A phenomenological investigation of the first two decades of university-based physiotherapy education in Nigeria. Cogent Med. 2017;4.

Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria- Accredited Academic Institutions. Available at: https://www.mrtb.gov.ng/en/ Accreditation/Accredited-Institutions/Accredited-Academic-Institutions. Accessed on 31 August 2020.

Obinna C. Expert laments neglect of physiotherapy practise in Nigeria. Vanguard News. 2010. Available at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/ 2010/10/expert-laments-neglect-ofphysiotherapy-practise-in-nigeria. Accessed on 1 September 2020.

Bolarinde S, Owoyemi T, Obaya A, Nanimebila M. Awareness and perception of physiotherapy among senior students of selected secondary schools in a South-Western community of Nigeria. Indian J Phys Ther Res. 2020;2:19.

Patel R. Awareness about physiotherapy among high school students of Anand district. Int J Innov Res Multidiscip Field. 2015;1:4.

Odebiyi DO, Omotunde AO, Aiyejusunle CB, Olalekan TA. Knowledge and perception of physiotherapy by final year medical students of a Nigerian university. Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2008;18(3):156-61.

Anon. Nigeria Borno State: School Operational Status and Children Enrollment (13 June 2017 estimates)- Nigeria. ReliefWeb. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-borno-state-school-operational-status-and-children-enroll-ment-13-june-2017. Accessed on 1 September 2020.

Anon. CONFUSION IN EDUCATION: 9-3-4, 6-3-3-4, 1-6-3-4, British, American or which curriculum?- Vanguard News. Available at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/confusion-in-education-9-3-4-6-3-3-4-1-6-3-4-british-american-or-which-curriculum/. Accessed on 1 September 2020.

Tsuda HC, Kiser BC, Shepard KF. Factors influencing high school students’ knowledge of physical therapy. Phys Ther. 1982;62(8):1157-64.

Smith JS, Dai DY, Szelest BP. Helping first-year students make the transition to college through advisor-researcher collaboration. NACADA J. 2006;26(1):67-76.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-25

How to Cite

Maduagwu, S. M., Braimoh, E., Muonwe, C., Umeonwuka, C., Ishaku, C. M., Modu, A. A., Nwanne, C. A., & Maduagwu, B. C. (2022). Secondary school students’ knowledge of physiotherapy as a profession. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(4), 1587–1591. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220825

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles