Questionnaire Survey of the Forms of Clinical Practice Training Used by Physical Therapy Schools in Japan

Abstract

[Purpose] A questionnaire survey was conducted in order to study the present condition of the differences in the forms of clinical practice at physical therapy schools throughout Japan. [Subjects] The 94 out of the 241 physical therapy schools that responded to the questionnaire. [Methods] The questionnaire was mailed to physical therapy schools. It inquired about school type, the numbers of students and teachers, the clinical practice training period, the participation method before and after the practice, school assignments, and the usage of the assignments. [Results] There was little difference in the school type, and the collection rate was 39.2%. With regard to participation before clinical training practice, implementation of classroom participation was 48.6% at four-year universities, whereas it was higher in three-year vocational schools, 59.3%, and in four-year vocational schools, 63%. The same trend was seen for practical skills. For school assignments, case reports were used in 68.4% of four-year universities compared to 81.5% of three-year vocational schools. Conversely, resumés were used more in four-year universities, 84.2%, than in three-year vocational schools, 70.4%. [Conclusion] The results was shown various intervention for a clinical practice training at physical therapy schools in Japan, and the difference by the school type was also recognized.