Awareness and Knowledge of Physiotherapy as a Career Option among High School Students: A Survey Study

Abstract

Background: Physiotherapy is one of the oldest components of the closely integrated group of allied health professionals. The period of Pre-adulthood lays down the stepping stone of their career for many because of the decisions. Information about various occupations and professions is an important factor when making one’s future choice. Understanding students' Awareness and knowledge of Physiotherapy is essential for informing interventions aimed at promoting informed career decision-making among youth. Aim and Objectives: To determine the extent to which high school students are aware of the field of Physiotherapy, and to determine the percentage of students considering pursuing a career in Physiotherapy. Methodology: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 150 high school students were selected using Convenience Sampling. The self-administered questionnaire was used as an outcome measure. Data was analyzed by entering data into SPSS version 26 and descriptive analysis was done with the help of pie charts and bar diagrams. Results and Conclusion: The results of the Study revealed that 46% of Students were Familiar with Physiotherapy. The Percentage of Students who considered Physiotherapy as a Career Option in the Medical field were 82% but, 63.3% were not aware of the eligibility criteria or entering a Physiotherapy degree program. However, 79.3% agreed that Physiotherapy is effective in reducing Pain. In summary, this study has highlighted the limited Awareness and knowledge of Physiotherapy as a career option among high school students in Fatehgarh Sahib District. Keywords: High School, Students, Physiotherapy, Awareness, Career Option