Abstract

Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional survey designed to explore the Clinical practice pattern in final year Physical Therapy students of Pakistan in 2012.
Methodology: A structured pre-tested questionnaire was prepared in English including different variables and was distributed to final year physical therapy students. Data was collected during the month of October-November, 2012. Those students who gave verbal consent were enrolled in the study. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 17. Descriptive analysis was done to evaluate responses of medical students.
Results: Out of total 233 final year physiotherapy students, 156 (67%) of them were female students while male students were only 76 (33%). Students chose post-graduate studies (60%) and practice as clinician (22.5%) as their first two preferred practice pattern. Working in hospital was more favored compared to other practice settings. The first setting of preference was ‘’hospital’’ with ‘’own clinical setting’’ second and ‘’with a medical specialist’’ setting third. A total of 180 (77.5%) of students expressed an interest in morning practice. Of the total, 32.5% of respondents rated "6 Hours Working Per Day", 32% rated "5 Hours Working Per Day" as their most preferred working hours per day. ‘’Less job opportunities’’ (22.5%) and ‘’low salary’’ (18.5%) were the most influential on students’ choice of discontinuing physical therapy profession. Most respondents (69.5%) preferred working in abroad as compared to Pakistan (30.5%).
Conclusion: It is thus concluded there are many factors playing role in the specialty selection and preference among the medical students. These all substantial factors should be equally justified and addressed for all specialties of physical therapy so that this quantitative and qualitative inequality of PT can be nullified.

Key words: Physical therapy, Medical students, practice pattern.