An Exploration of Physiotherapy Students’ Perceptions of Older Adult Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

Research suggests that healthcare professionals, including students, can demonstrate negative attitudes toward older patients. Effective education is proposed as the way to change negative attitudes, but evidence is conflicting. This study explored physiotherapy students’ perceptions of older people and their rehabilitation. Data were collected utilizing semistructured, focus group interviews with the United Kingdom's physiotherapy students aged between 20 and 40 years. A thematic analysis was undertaken. Two themes from the main study pertinent to clinical education are presented. Issues identified as adversely affecting care for older adults included organizational intransigence, lack of resources, lack of motivation and activity on wards, and stereotypical attitudes. These findings suggest that clinical placements clearly influenced participants’ perceptions. While more negative experiences had the potential to adversely influence perceptions, they engendered in the participants a sense of injustice and increased their determination to be proactive in the rehabilitation of older people.

KEYWORDS. :

• Physiotherapy students
• clinical placements
• ageism