Journal Article

Listening to Our Students: What are the Most Important Factors When Choosing a Physical Therapy Program

Tautonico, Michael, Petrizzo, John, Voltmer, Christopher, Hall, Cheryl A., Flanzraich, Shaina, Hill, Kelsy

2024

Overview

INTRODUCTION: Technology, distance learning, and social media have changed the landscape of physical therapy education. Modifications are needed to meet the needs of applicants and align with the current healthcare environment. PURPOSE: To identify the most important factors students consider when selecting a physical therapist education program. METHODS: A survey including free response options was shared with physical therapist education program students by chairpersons and through student interest groups. RESULTS: 545 responses representing 46 states and all CAPTE geographical regions were analyzed. The most important factors when selecting a program were: location (65.9%), tuition (64.8%), perception of physical therapy education quality (39.1%), and national board pass rate (34.1%). The least important factors were: technology utilization (74.3%), class size (46.1%), and national ranking/reputation (45.1%). Also, the majority of respondents preferred in-person educational delivery (94.7%). 75.4% reported program length was not a factor in applying to a program. CONCLUSIONS: Programs should seek to meet the needs of applicants with consideration of meaningful elements in choosing a program. Students ranked \"location\" and \"tuition\" as primary considerations for choosing a program, which may be related to curtailing debt by living at home while in school. \"Program quality,\" over \"reputation/ranking,\" suggests the importance of a robust curriculum, which is viewed as a predictor of passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

• Publisher: The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions,Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
• Subject: Aging (Individuals) / Class Size / College Faculty / College professors / College Science / Colleges & universities / Costs / Curricula / Delivery Systems / Department Heads / Distance Education / Distance learning / Doctoral Programs / Educational Quality / Electronic Learning / Environment / Expenditure per Student / Expenditures / Fringe Benefits / Geographic Location / Higher education / In Person Learning / Influence of Technology / Learning Strategies / Masters Programs / Pandemics / Physical therapists / Physical therapy / Program Length / Qualitative research / Reputation / Reputations / Research Design / Student Costs / Student Interests / Student Surveys / Students / Tuition