Educating Medical Students on the Roles of Occupational and Physical Therapy

BACKGROUND: It is crucial for physicians to understand the roles of occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) to ensure accurate patient referrals and to optimize patient care. Unfortunately, medical students often do not receive sufficient education or interprofessional opportunities regarding OT and PT services. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an educational workshop on medical students' familiarity with the roles of OT and PT and on their confidence in referring to these therapy services. METHODS: Thirty-seven fourth-year medical students participated in a 2-hour workshop focused on the roles and benefits of OT and PT. After the didactic portion, students were given case scenarios relevant to their chosen specialty to discuss roles of OT and PT specific to their case. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The students completed before and after surveys that assessed perceived knowledge and students' perspectives on the value of the workshop. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 (case-control study). RESULTS: From before to after the workshop, the students showed significant improvements in their familiarity with OT and PT and in their confidence to appropriately make a referral to these services. CONCLUSIONS: The tailored curriculum hosted in a workshop format improved students' knowledge regarding the role and services of OT and PT as well as their confidence in making accurate referrals.