Bridging the rehabilitation gap: awareness and attitudes toward physiotherapy among medical students in post-conflict Syria

Background Physiotherapy is an essential component of modern healthcare and multidisciplinary management; however, its role remains underrecognized in many developing countries. Limited awareness among medical students may negatively affect referral practices and interprofessional collaboration. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, exposure, and attitudes toward physiotherapy among Syrian medical students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2025 using a non-probability convenience sampling method. An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to medical students across Syria. Awareness was assessed using a 15-item Physiotherapy Awareness Score (PAS) (range 0–15). Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results A total of 408 medical students participated (mean age 22 ± 1.7 years; 51.5% male). Overall awareness was higher for musculoskeletal disorders (92.4%), sports injuries (88.2%), and post-surgical rehabilitation (85.3%), but markedly lower for pediatric care (18.4%), oncologic rehabilitation (24%), and women’s health (46.3%). Clinical-stage students demonstrated significantly higher awareness scores than basic-stage students (8.66 ± 3.03 vs. 6.60 ± 2.94; p < 0.0001). Awareness was also higher among students who reported physiotherapy education at their medical school ( p = 0.03), perceived physiotherapy as effective ( p = 0.024), or expressed interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation ( p = 0.03). Attitudes were positive, with 85.3% supporting greater integration of physiotherapy into medical curricula. Conclusions Syrian medical students show positive attitudes toward physiotherapy but limited awareness of its broader clinical applications. Clinical exposure and perceived treatment effectiveness were associated with higher awareness. Integrating structured physiotherapy education into undergraduate curricula may improve interdisciplinary collaboration and referral practices.