Physiotherapy Students’ Attitudes Toward Working With People With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

<i>Aims</i>: To understand personal, educational and clinical experiences and the attitudes of physiotherapy students towards people with dementia. <i>Methods</i>: Online survey questionnaire. Physiotherapy students in the last year of a two-year Masters of Physical Therapy (MPT) entry-to-practice degree program (<i>n</i> = 59) were surveyed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. <i>Results:</i> Fifty-five students participated (93%). The majority of students (<i>n</i> = 52/55, 77%) had at least one clinical placement working with people with dementia. Overall, 53% (<i>n</i> = 29/55) felt their academic training was sufficient to effectively work with people with dementia. Moreover, 82% (<i>n</i> = 45/55) reported their confidence was greatest working with people who could communicate well verbally. <i>Conclusions:</i> Disease-based knowledge was strong, yet just over half felt their academic training was sufficient to effectively work with people with dementia. The findings support the need for more training, particularly in communication strategies, to support students to effectively work with client with dementia upon graduation.

**研究目的**：旨在探究物理治疗专业学生针对痴呆症患者的个人经历、教育经历与临床实践经历，以及其对痴呆症群体的态度。**研究方法**：采用线上问卷调查法。本研究针对修读两年制物理治疗硕士（Masters of Physical Therapy, MPT）执业准入学位项目最后一年的物理治疗专业学生开展调查，计划样本量为n=59，并运用描述性统计方法对数据进行分析。**研究结果**：最终共有55名学生参与本次调查，参与率达93%。其中绝大多数学生（n=52/55，占比77%）曾拥有至少一次针对痴呆症患者的临床实习经历。总体而言，53%的学生（n=29/55）认为其在校所学的学术培训足以使其有效开展与痴呆症患者相关的临床工作。此外，82%的学生（n=45/55）表示，他们在与语言沟通能力良好的痴呆症患者合作时自信心最强。**研究结论**：学生对痴呆症的疾病相关知识掌握较为扎实，但仅有略多于半数的学生认为自身学术培训足以胜任与痴呆症患者的有效临床工作。本研究结果提示，亟需为物理治疗专业学生增设更多相关培训课程，尤其是沟通策略相关的训练，以助力学生在毕业后能够高效地为痴呆症患者提供临床服务。