Physiotherapy students’ expectations and career choice in Turkey

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine physiotherapy students’ perceptions and expectations related to their physiotherapy profession and education. Method: Two hundred and thirty two students (68 were first-year students, 72 were second-year students, 57 were third-year students, and 35 were fourth-year students) who were studying in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation of Dokuz Eylu？l University in the 2012–2013 academic year and who accepted to participate in the research were consisted in the sample of the study. Students were aware of their future profession: 73.5% of first-year students, 63.8% of second-year students, 59.6% of third-year students, and 57.1% of fourth-year students. Reasons for preferring physiotherapy were community perception and career opportunities. More than 92% of the students declared they were positively affected by acquaintances and friends in choosing physiotherapy. Results: Analyzed in terms of years of education, there were no differences between students’ rights and responsibility levels, in terms of their vocational anxiety and knowledge levels. The major numbers of students had adequate information about physiotherapy profession and they did not have worries about finding a job after graduation. Conclusion: Main factors for student’s decision to study physiotherapy were their career expectations and community perception