The knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of physiotherapists in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, towards mental health.
Marilyn Hooblaul, Saul Cobbing, Kurt J Daniels
PMID 33241158WHAT IT FOUND
KwaZulu-Natal physiotherapists reported positive attitudes towards mental health but said undergraduate training left them underprepared.
They learned through experience and team contact, and wanted more knowledge about medication effects and communication.
Key findings
01Physiotherapists reported a positive attitude towards mental health, with an average ATP-30 score of 103.70 and a standard deviation of 11.71.
02Focus group participants said they were not prepared immediately after graduation because undergraduate training gave limited mental health knowledge.
03Participants said they gained mental health knowledge after graduation by working with people living with mental illness and learning from multidisciplinary team members, and they wanted more knowledge about how mental health affects physical health.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The ATP-30 tool was designed for medical doctors and occupational therapists, not specifically for physiotherapists. The study relied on self-reported knowledge, attitudes and perceptions, so it may not show what physiotherapists do in practice. It included only public sector physiotherapists in KwaZulu-Natal, so it may not apply to private practice or other provinces. The researchers did not review university curricula or ask about postgraduate or continuing education in mental health. No intervention was tested, so the paper cannot show that adding mental health training improves patient care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that positive attitudes mean physiotherapists are prepared to manage patients with mental illness. Participants reported limited undergraduate knowledge, felt unprepared after graduation, and said they learned later through experience and multidisciplinary team members.