How do practicing physical therapists perceive anatomy education?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Anatomy education is fundamental for physical therapy (PT) practice.
• Understanding clinician perceptions of anatomy training is crucial for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceived sufficiency and relevance of anatomy education among physical therapists at different career stages.
• To identify factors influencing these perceptions, such as anatomy teaching methods.

Main Methods:

• A survey was emailed to 194 physical therapists across various practice years.
• Data collected included anatomy learning methods and Likert scale opinions.
• One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) compared responses between practice groups.

Main Results:

• Respondents across all career stages deemed anatomy education sufficient and relevant to clinical practice.
• Physical therapists with prior dissection experience were more likely to consider it essential.
• Years of practice did not significantly impact views on anatomy education sufficiency or relevance.

Conclusions:

• Current anatomy education in physical therapy programs is perceived positively by practicing clinicians.
• Dissection remains a valued component of anatomy instruction.
• Ongoing feedback from clinicians is recommended for future curriculum refinement, especially as educational approaches evolve.