CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF SCOLIOSIS IN PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS TRAINED IN TURKEY

Purpose: Present evidence suggests that early detection and correct management is an essential part of scoliosis treatment. Therefore, the physiotherapists and physiotherapy students must have adequate knowledge of scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current knowledge of physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Turkey on scoliosis. Methods: A previously designed questionnaire on the basis of International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) guideline consists of two sections was used in this study. The first section included eight questions to evaluate the knowledge level on the definition, cause, development, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and bracing of scoliosis. The second section included three multiple-choice questions to analyze the participants’ opinions on exercises for scoliosis. All Turkish universities offering physiotherapy degrees and graduated physiotherapists from certain social media groups were invited to participate in the study. Results: 649 physiotherapists and 497 students completed the questionnaire. Scoliosis is recognized as a 3-dimensional deformity of the spine by 39.8% of the students and 57.2% of the physiotherapists. Only 19.5% of the students and 30.7% of the physiotherapists correctly identified the diagnostic criteria for scoliosis. For therapeutic exercise, 48.7% of the students and 61.3% percent of the physiotherapists identified the appropriate approach, and also 57.3% of the students and 62.6% of the physiotherapists correctly identified the bracing recommendations. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that physiotherapists and physiotherapy students do not have sufficient knowledge of scoliosis. Action needs to be taken to improve the awareness and basic knowledge level of scoliosis.