Attitudes of physiotherapy students toward neurology: does "neurophobia" exist among physiotherapy students?

Evidence is accumulating that medical students and practitioners have particular difficulty in neurology and have neurophobia. However, little is known about attitudes toward neurology in physiotherapy students.

This study aimed to assess the attitudes of physiotherapy students toward neurology and compare it with other core specialties, identify contributors to difficulties of neurology, and obtain feedback for improving the quality of neurology and neurological rehabilitation education.

A structured survey was distributed to final-year physiotherapy students in different universities across Turkey. Perceived level of knowledge, confidence, interest, difficulty, and desire to pursue a career in four main physiotherapy specialty areas (neurology, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and pediatric) were assessed. Reasons for perceived difficulty and ways to improve neurological physiotherapy education were asked by Likert-type and open-ended questions.

Three hundred ninety-one students participated from 12 universities. Neurology was perceived as the most challenging discipline (p < .001), but a lack of knowledge, interest, and confidence were not reported. The reasons for perceived difficulties with neurology were the need-to-know basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, difficulty integrating information into the clinic, and the complexity of the subject. To improve learning, most students recommended increasing clinical teaching, including bedside tutorials, exposure to more patients, and case discussions.

Physiotherapy students considered neurology as the most challenging discipline. Improving the integration of basic neurosciences into the clinic may improve neurology learning along with increased clinical teaching.