Factors Which Influence Physical Therapists' Decision to Practice in Pediatrics.

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 PEDIATRICS

Pediatric Physical Therapy Pub Date : 2025-07-01 Epub Date: 2025-06-27 DOI:10.1097/PEP.0000000000001205

Heather Lundeen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: A workforce shortage exists within pediatric physical therapy (PT) which is likely contributing to limited access to services for children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with a physical therapist's decision to practice pediatrics.

Methods: Pediatric physical therapists completed an online questionnaire investigating the level of perceptions and influences associated with the choice to practice pediatrics.

Results: Participants (80%) chose their pediatric practice before or during their professional education and participated in a full-time pediatric clinical experience. The perception of pediatric PT was more positive in items representing clinical care, mentorship, and education. Factors that positively influenced participants' choice of the pediatric practice were clinical care, mentorship, education, and personal/professional.

Conclusions: Results will guide students, faculty, and mentors to understand factors that influence the choice of pediatric PT and help mitigate the workforce shortage.

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影响物理治疗师在儿科执业决定的因素。

目的：儿童物理治疗（PT）存在劳动力短缺，这可能导致儿童获得服务的机会有限。本研究的目的是调查物理治疗师决定从事儿科学的相关因素。方法：儿童物理治疗师完成了一份在线问卷，调查与选择从事儿科学相关的认知水平和影响。结果：参与者（80%）在他们的专业教育之前或期间选择了他们的儿科实践，并参加了全职儿科临床经验。在代表临床护理、指导和教育的项目中，儿童PT的感知更为积极。临床护理、指导、教育和个人/专业是影响被试选择儿科实习的正向因素。结论：研究结果将指导学生、教师和导师了解影响儿科PT选择的因素，并有助于缓解劳动力短缺。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Pediatric Physical Therapy PEDIATRICS-REHABILITATION

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

18.80%

发文量

147

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Pediatric Physical Therapy is an indexed international journal, that publishes peer reviewed research related to the practice of physical therapy for children with movement disorders. The editorial board is comprised of an international panel of researchers and clinical scholars that oversees a rigorous peer review process. The journal serves as the official journal for the pediatric physical therapy professional organizations in the Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The journal includes articles that support evidenced based practice of physical therapy for children with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and developmental conditions that lead to disorders of movement, and research reports that contribute to the foundational sciences of pediatric physical therapy, ranging from biomechanics and pediatric exercise science to neurodevelopmental science. To these ends the journal publishes original research articles, systematic reviews directed to specific clinical questions that further the science of physical therapy, clinical guidelines and case reports that describe unusual conditions or cutting edge interventions with sound rationale. The journal adheres to the ethical standards of theInternational Committee of Medical Journal Editors.