HEALTH INSTITUTIONS

Background: Nigeria requires more physiotherapists and specialized training to improve care quality. A mandatory one-year internship bridges the gap between education and practice, enhancing skills and confidence.The quality of internship training, including supervision, learning opportunities, and a supportive environment, plays a crucial role in influencing interns’ satisfaction and their specialization choices. Aim: The aim and purpose of this research is to explore physiotherapy interns’ knowledge perceptions, and attitude towards specializing in neurophysiotherapy in south-south, Nigeria Methods: The study employs a cross-sectional design using a proportionate sampling technique, with a calculated sample size of 126 physiotherapy interns distributed across seven hospitals in South-South Nigeria.Data collection will be conducted through a self-adapted questionnaire divided into four sections: socio-demographic information, knowledge, perception, and attitude towards specializing in neurophysiotherapy.Data analysis will involve descriptive statistics and inferential tools, such as chi-square tests, using SPSS version 22 at a 0.05 significance level. Result: The study revealed that most participants were male (68.2%), over 30 years old (59.1%), single (93.2%), and Christian (81.8%). A majority of interns (81.1%) rated their knowledge of neurophysiotherapy and its components as "good" or "very good," with all identifying key neurological conditions suitable for rehabilitation. Exposure to neurology units (75.8%) and treatment modalities (72.7%) significantly influenced their decision to specialize, though many (76.5%) found neurophysiotherapy challenging. Overall, interns expressed curiosity (79.6%) and a willingness to enhance their knowledge through clinical experiences. Conclusion: The findings showed that most interns had strong foundational knowledge of neurophysiotherapy, with high confidence in their ability to specialize. However, challenges and uncertainties about managing neurological conditions persisted. Despite this, participants maintained a positive attitude and perception toward specializing in neurophysiotherapy