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K. McPherson1,2, I. Nahon2, G. Waddington2
1Charles Sturt University, School of Community Health, Orange, NSW, Australia, 2University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Background: The scope of men’s health physiotherapy is not clearly defined, although it has been suggested that it covers prostate, bladder and sexual dysfunction. A previous survey in 2016 in Australia, found variability in the content taught to entry-level physiotherapists in men’s health. Only a third of the courses provided education on men’s health, and this included prostate cancer and pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation and erectile dysfunction. (McPherson, Nahon, Waddington 2019).
As it is a growing concern for the aging population, recognising, screening and managing men’s health needs to be a recognised entry-level skill.
As it is a growing concern for the aging population, recognising, screening and managing men’s health needs to be a recognised entry-level skill.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to further explore the preparation for physiotherapy graduates in the area of men‘s health physiotherapy, within Australia. The depth of content and perceived importance of the content throughout the courses and any barriers to teaching the content were also explored.
Methods: A survey was distributed heads of physiotherapy programs in Australia in October 2019. The survey was developed based on a previous survey exploring subject content and it’s perceived importance within a physiotherapy entry-level physiotherapy program The survey had open and closed questions. A “Likert” scale was used for the closed questions on the content and perceived importance of the content within the physiotherapy courses. The open-ended questions were analysed for themes.
Results: Fourteen out of the fifteen university courses responded that they had men’s health content in their course. Prostate cancer, pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, introduction to erectile dysfunction, was covered well to very well by 10 courses and perceived to be needed to be covered in all courses. Male culture and pelvic health were covered ‘very well’ and ‘well’ by eleven courses and perceived to be important by all. Introduction to chronic pelvic pain and prostatitis was ‘not very well’ or ‘not at all’ covered, but perceived to important by all. Other content that was stated to be covered in some courses included premature ejaculation, pelvic floor friendly exercises post-surgery and cycling and the pelvic floor.
Six university courses stated barriers to delivering the men’s health content included time constraints within the curriculum and expertise to teach the men’s’ health content.
The number of hours involved in teaching men’s health physiotherapy ranged from 1 to 16 hours, with an average of four hours. The content was embedded in other subjects in all courses, for example with women’s health.
One course stated they had a specific clinical placement in men’s health.
There were student research projects in the area of men’s health physiotherapy in six courses.
Six university courses stated barriers to delivering the men’s health content included time constraints within the curriculum and expertise to teach the men’s’ health content.
The number of hours involved in teaching men’s health physiotherapy ranged from 1 to 16 hours, with an average of four hours. The content was embedded in other subjects in all courses, for example with women’s health.
One course stated they had a specific clinical placement in men’s health.
There were student research projects in the area of men’s health physiotherapy in six courses.
Conclusion(s): Entry-level physiotherapy courses in Australia are expanding the knowledge and skills of graduates in men's health physiotherapy, but are currently limited by the amount of teaching hours and teaching staff with expertise to teach men's health physiotherapy
Implications: All physiotherapy entry –level graduates should have knowledge and skills in men's health physiotherapy, recognise conditions and symptoms. This will also enable a smoother transition to post graduate courses, qualifications, and specialisation.
Funding, acknowledgements: no funding
Keywords: Men's health, Curriculum, entry -level physiotherapy
Topic: Education
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Canberra
Committee: University of Canberra Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: HREC-2169
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
