RESEARCH REPORT PLATFORM PRESENTATION

HEALTH CARE IN THE FUTURE: WILL PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES BE ADEQUATE FOR OLDER PEOPLE? Hobbs C, Dean C, Higgs J, Adamson B; The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if students’ knowledge of older people changed throughout their physiotherapy undergraduate program and to describe any changes over time. RELEVANCE: The ageing population in Australia, as with many countries, presents a significant challenge for healthcare provision as this population is increasing in number and in proportion to the total population. Physiotherapy service shortages for older people already exist and the magnitude will increase unless practitioners recognise the opportunities that are available. Unfortunately, beginning practitioners also seem reluctant to work with older people. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 208 students eligible to participate in this study, 198 volunteered. An 80% or more participation rate throughout the 3-year duration of the study was achieved. METHODS: The Facts on Ageing Quiz 1 (FAQ 1) measured participants’ knowledge of older people at three points of time, during their education. Two variables, knowledge as percentage FAQ1 correct responses and ignorance measured as percentage of “don’t know” responses were examined. ANALYSIS: Changes over time were analysed using paired t-tests with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Initial knowledge about older people was poor with a mean score of 43.6% and subsequent results significantly increased over time to a mean score of 51.7% (p = 0.0001). The improvement in knowledge was accompanied by a decrease in ignorance over the study period (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge attained suggests that educational and workplace sectors need to address the real issues confronting workforce preparation of physiotherapists in relation to the care of older people. IMPLICATIONS: This is particularly important because students’ ideology will become the foundation for their professional behaviour and the norms of their profession. This suggests that the profession runs the risk of producing beginning practitioners with minimal base knowledge of physiotherapy practice for older people. KEYWORDS: physiotherapy, older people, knowledge,. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research was supported by a grant from the Teaching and Learning Committee at the University of Sydney. CONTACT: hobbs@hotkey.net.au

ETHICS COMMITTEE: The Ethics Committee, The University of Sydney