Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the image students have of handicap using an objective index. [Subjects] The subjects were 163 physical therapy students: 47 first-year, 56 second-year, and 60 third-year students. [Method] Students scored their image of a cerebrovascular disorder patient on a modified Barthel index (BI), and we statistically examined the differences among the academic years. [Results] There were no differences among the academic years in the total BI score, and students’ image of independence was feeding, and need of assistance was bathing. There were differences among the academic years in students’ image of feeding, fitting an orthosis, bathing, transfer to the bath, and more than 50 m transfer by wheelchair. [Conclusion] The results show that there are some items of students’ image of handicap that are affected by academic progress, and other items that are not.
