Factors influencing high school students' knowledge of physical therapy

A questionnaire in a closed-question format was used to survey 403 California high school students' accuracy of knowledge and available sources of information about physical therapy. Most students had some knowledge of physical therapy. The most recognized physical role was "instructing a patient in exercises" (83%). Very few students, however, were familiar with the role "provides wound care" (16%). A relatively common misconception was the belief that a physical therapist "prescribes medication" (24%). Very few significant differences in the recognition of individual tasks were found between junior and senior, male and female, urban and rural, or health career and nonhealth career oriented students. Health career students were more knowledgeable about physical therapy than any other group. The category of personal contacts was cited by the most students as their source of information (61%), and television (in the media category) was the most frequently cited single source (35%). Other studies have established that many high school students are making career decisions. This study of high school students' knowledge of physical therapy may assist in identifying career information useful to students and in stimulating a viable pool of applicants for physical therapy programs.