Enhancing Physiotherapy Students' Attitudes toward Disabled People

Negative or narrow attitudes toward the physically disabled can be detrimental to success in rehabilitation, yet programmes aimed at improving attitudes frequently fail. An 18 hour programme aimed at increasing first-year physiotherapy students' knowledge of the disabled and reasons for negative attitudes was evaluated. At course commencement when compared with an Australia-wide sample, students revealed more positive attitudes regarding the needs but not the characteristics of the disabled. At course completion students perceived the disabled as more similar to other people in their characteristics and needs. Students felt less ignorant about disability and exhibited more of a coping perspective: pitying and admiring the disabled less and fearing disability less. They still experienced guilt and discomfort regarding interaction.