Medical students’ awareness of the role of physiotherapists in multidisciplinary healthcare

BACKGROUND: Successful implementation of multidisciplinary healthcare approach may among other things depend on students' education and knowledge of the roles of healthcare professions other than their own. This study investigated medical students' awareness of the role of physiotherapists in multidisciplinary healthcare teams. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight medical students of the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, participated in this study. Each student completed a self-administered questionnaire that obtained information on demographics, awareness of role of physiotherapists and educational sources of information as well as suggestions about other sources of information about physiotherapy. Chi-square test was used to analyze differences in awareness by gender and year of study. RESULTS: Although rates of awareness regarding some physiotherapy roles were high, many of the medical students were unaware that physiotherapists can practice on first-contact basis and autonomously. About 60% of the students also viewed the role of physiotherapists in the health team as one of providing assistance for medical work. Clinical ward round was the most common source of information on physiotherapy although many of the students suggested classroom lecture as a preferred means of obtaining information. Year of study resulted in significantly different level of awareness (p < 0.05) with a higher proportion of final year students exhibiting awareness of physiotherapists' roles. CONCLUSION: Clinical ward rounds facilitated the students' awareness of the role of physiotherapists. Interprofessional education involving lectures and clinical ward rounds may assist in building medical students' level of awareness and appreciation of the physiotherapy profession.