Profile of physical therapy educators in five countries.

Area of Science:

• Allied Health Sciences
• Educational Sciences

Background:

• Physical therapy education programs are established globally.
• Understanding the profile of physical therapy educators is crucial for program development and international collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile physical therapy educators in Australia, Britain and Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, and South Africa.
• To compare this profile with that of US and Canadian physical therapy educators.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 154 faculty members from 18 physical therapy programs.
• The questionnaire covered education, experience, and professional activities.

Main Results:

• 79% of respondents held diploma or certificate level qualifications, with a lower percentage holding academic degrees compared to US educators.
• Similarities were observed in gender distribution, age (under 40), enrollment in academic programs, and tenure status.
• Differences included teaching hours and the number of faculty publishing in the last two years.

Conclusions:

• Physical therapy educators in the surveyed countries generally possess lower academic degrees than their US and Canadian counterparts.
• Demographic and professional similarities exist, but differences in teaching load and publication rates are notable.
• Recognizing these international variations can support faculty exchange and employment initiatives.