Nigerian physiotherapists’ perception of physiotherapy internship: perceived expectations, experience, and outcomes

Abstract

Background Physiotherapy internship in Nigeria was inaugurated in 1994 to allow continuous learning in the clinical setting, connecting theoretical knowledge and workplace practice. The internship program has not been evaluated over the years. The aim of study was to assess physiotherapists’ perceptions of the internship in Nigeria in terms of expectations, experiences, and outcomes. Methods A mixed method design of a cross-sectional survey and focus group discussion (FGD) was utilized. An adapted questionnaire was used for the survey. Data was assessed using descriptive statistics and content thematic analysis. Results The mean age of the physiotherapists who participated in the survey (147 males; 116 females) and FGD (7 males; 2 females) were 27.4 ± 2.5 and 28.8 ± 2.3 years, respectively. Most participants in the survey perceived their internship experience as good (97.7%), the supervision received as adequate (76%), and the outcomes of internship in terms of usefulness as useful (76%). The overall perception of physiotherapy internship in Nigeria was rated as good by 51% and fair by 47% of participants. However, responders in the FGD reported negative experiences including inadequate or lack supervision. They also reported that they were not formally prepared for internship by their training institutions or receiving health institutions before beginning internship. Conclusion Physiotherapy internship in Nigeria was perceived as deficient in structural organization and supervision of the interns. The outcome of internship program was perceived as good even though the experiences were negative.