Knowledge and Perception of Physiotherapy among Clinical Students in Various Health Care Disciplines of a Nigerian College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Background: The delivery of effective inter professional co-operations in health practice is essential for successful treatment outcomes. Inter professional education has been seen to be a major means of improving the knowledge of students about other health disciplines and encouraging future co-operations in health practice. The study therefore aims at investigating health sciences students' knowledge and perceptions of physiotherapy, to enable the planning of a relevant interdisciplinary curriculum that includes all clinical students. Method: A total of 404 undergraduate clinical students [Males = 219, Females =185] in various health programmes participated in this study. A cross-sectional design was utilized for the study. A convenience sampling technique was utilized. Copies of the questionnaire were self-administered and data collected on the same day. The questionnaire was distributed in lecture halls and students' hostels and students were expected to respond to the sections bordering on their socio-demographics, knowledge and perception of physiotherapy. Descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages was used to analyse data on knowledge and perception of physiotherapy. Results: A low level of knowledge of physical modalities and treatment procedures utilized by physiotherapists was observed across the various health care disciplines. A positive perception of physiotherapy was observed. Classroom lectures was identified as the most common source of knowledge of physiotherapy. Conclusion: A low level of knowledge of the various physiotherapy treatment procedures and modalities was observed among clinical students in the various health care disciplines. An improved interdisciplinary curriculum in the various colleges of medicine may foster the increase in knowledge of physiotherapy, hence promoting interdisciplinary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]