Survey of burn education in entry-level physical therapy programs

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy Education
• Medical and Surgical Instruction
• Oncology and Burn Care

Background:

• Entry-level physical therapy curricula vary in their inclusion of specialized medical content.
• Burn and cancer management are critical areas requiring specific knowledge and skills for physical therapists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of burn education within physical therapy programs.
• To gather data on oncology instruction in physical therapy curricula.
• To evaluate the perceived preparedness of new graduates for treating patients with burns and cancer.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was distributed to directors of 96 entry-level physical therapy programs.
• 76 program directors responded, providing data on curriculum content and instructional hours.
• Data analysis focused on lecture hours, content areas, and instructor qualifications.

Main Results:

• Nearly all responding programs (98.7%) included lectures on burn and cancer management.
• Average instructional time was 4.8 hours for burn medical/surgical lectures and 4.2 hours for physical therapy procedures.
• Physicians and nurses contributed to medical/surgical lectures, while physical therapists predominantly taught procedures.

Conclusions:

• While most physical therapy programs incorporate burn and cancer education, the limited hours may impact new graduate competency.
• A majority of respondents believe new graduates are prepared, but a significant minority express concerns.
• Recommendations for enhancing physical therapy burn education are proposed.