Employers and clients’ satisfaction toward the quality of physical therapists who graduated in 2016-2018 from Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University

Abstract

Background: The study of employers and clients’ satisfaction of physical therapist affect the improvement of curriculum to produce the graduates serve the future demands.

Objectives: To determine the employers and clients’ satisfaction level of physical therapist who graduated Bachelor of Science (Physical Therapy) and the employer requirements of physical therapist’s core competencies in the next 5 years.

Methods: Assessed clients’ satisfaction level from the questionnaires. In addition, the researcher conducted a focus group interview with 7 employers of graduates for exploring the satisfaction level and the employer requirements of physical therapist’s core competencies in the next 5 years.

Results: The respondents were 109 clients who receiving physical therapy services. Clients’ satisfaction level was excellent. The highest score was in the dimension of physical therapist manners to clients (4.77 ± 0.43 points. The lowest score is in the dimension of physical therapist’s knowledge and manual skills, and communication skill, respectively (4.49 ± 0.56 points, 4.49 ± 0.58 points). The qualitative results showed that graduates were outstanding in knowledge and confidence during working. However, they should improve in the aspects of knowledge application, work experience and communication skill. Physical therapist’s core competencies in the next 5 years will be knowledge in elderly field, leadership, creativity, and social skills.

Conclusion: The highest score of clients’ satisfactions was service and approach of the physical therapists. The outstanding characteristic of physical therapists were knowledge and confidence. However, there were areas for improvement in knowledge application, work experience, and communication skill. The results of this study can be used for the improvements the program.