Evaluating Awareness and Attitudes Toward Physiotherapy in Pre-university Students in Moradabad

Himani Rathi; Aditya Sharma; Abhinandan Gupta; Mohd Subhan; Animesh Jain

Evaluating Awareness and Attitudes Toward Physiotherapy in Pre-university Students in Moradabad

Author(s)	Dr. Himani Rathi, Mr. Aditya Sharma, Mr. Abhinandan Gupta, Mr. Mohd Subhan, Mr. Animesh Jain
Country	India
Abstract	Background. Physiotherapy is an essential component of modern healthcare, contributing to health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation across the lifespan. Despite its growing role, public awareness of the profession—particularly among young people who are choosing a career—remains incomplete, and misconceptions about its scope persist. Objective. To evaluate the level of awareness and attitudes toward physiotherapy among pre-university (higher secondary) science students in Moradabad, and to identify factors that influence their perceptions of physiotherapy as a profession. Methods. A cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted over six months among 276 higher secondary science students from schools in the Moradabad region, Uttar Pradesh, India. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling and completed the self-administered Awareness and Perception of Physiotherapy Questionnaire, a 26-item instrument covering awareness (scope of practice, conditions treated, professional integration) and attitudes/perceptions (professional respect, career motivation, work environment). Data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results. The questionnaire showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.815). The mean total score was 20.13 (SD 4.70) out of a possible range observed of 8–33, with a mean awareness score of 12.72 (SD 3.08) and a mean attitude score of 7.42 (SD 2.25), indicating moderate awareness alongside a generally positive but less developed attitude. Awareness of common treatment approaches was high (therapeutic exercises 87.3%, taping/splinting 87.3%, electrical modalities 86.2%), and the profession was strongly associated with orthopaedics (84.4%) and rehabilitation (81.9%). However, misconceptions were common: 59.4% believed physiotherapists can perform surgery and 65.6% believed they can prescribe medicine. Awareness was comparatively lower for geriatric (65.6%) and antenatal/postnatal (71.4%) care, and the lowest-scoring domains were professional respect and work environment. Conclusion. Pre-university students in Moradabad demonstrate moderate and broadly positive awareness of physiotherapy, but important gaps and misconceptions remain—particularly regarding the profession’s scope beyond orthopaedics, its clinical autonomy, and its position within the wider healthcare system. Targeted educational and awareness initiatives at the secondary-school level are needed to strengthen accurate understanding and to support physiotherapy as a career choice.
Keywords	physiotherapy; physical therapy; awareness; attitude; perception; pre-university students; career choice; Moradabad.
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-13

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Evaluating Awareness and Attitudes Toward Physiotherapy in Pre-university Students in Moradabad

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