Attitudes towards continuous professional development and postgraduate education of Croatian students of physiotherapy

Abstract

Relevance: Contemporary physiotherapy requires continuous professional development (CPD) and growth of evidence based knowledge to satisfy emerging needs of further development of the profession. This requires awareness of the importance of CPD, research and postgraduate education. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine attitudes of Croatian undergraduate students of physiotherapy towards CPD, postgraduate education and research. Our objective was to provide insight into views and intentions of future physiotherapists regarding their further academic education, CPD activities and their knowledge and interest in active participation in research. Methods/Analysis: A cross-sectional survey study involved 496 (45, 6%) of physiotherapy students enrolled at the University of Applied Health Sciences in Zagreb and the College of Applied Sciences Lavoslav Ruzicka in Vukovar, Croatia during academic year 2015/2016. Participants were undergraduate students ; 68, 9% female and 31, 1% male. Average age of the subjects was 20(range 18-41). A structured 33-items closed ended questionnaire was developed for the study. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0. Descriptive statistics and correlations were performed for all variables of interest. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare students by gender and Kruskall-Wallis H test to compare students by year of study. The level of significance was set at p< 0, 05. Results: Almost all of students (98, 6%) used the Internet for education at least twice per week. However, their usage of scientific databases was moderate (76, 6%), but it tended to grow with the year of study (50% ; 86, 7% ; 95, 1%). Only 15, 2% of students did not plan to enroll in postgraduate study and 36, 4% definitely planned to enroll. Their attitudes toward CPD were very positive ; 89, 9% understood the need to participate in CPD activities. Female students valued higher this need(p˂0, 001). CPD was assessed as very important for efficient physiotherapy practice (4, 5 on Likert scale 1-5). Performing research was also assessed as very important (4, 4). Also, there was a strong positive correlation between importance of research and CPD (r=0, 61 ; p˂0, 001). However, their interest for active participation in research was modest (3, 3), and their self-assessed knowledge regarding research methodology was even worse (2, 8). Publishing of scientific papers was assessed as rather important (3, 6), more to female students (p=0, 002), as well as pursuing master and doctoral degrees (4). Discussion and conclusions: Croatian physiotherapy students have positive attitudes towards CPD. Significant number of students plan to continue with postgraduate study and they are well aware of the importance of postgraduate education. Likewise, they are aware of the value of research in physiotherapy, but they lack in knowledge and interest to participate in research themselves. Their IT competences are sufficient to enable them to use digital media to participate in CPD activities. Impact and Implications: Results of this study emphasize the need to improve our students´ knowledge of research methodology through curriculum and to encourage them to develop basic research competencies. Their interest and ambitions for research could be improved by exposing them to different aspects of research during their study.