Resident doctors

Background: Residency training is a supervised postgraduate medical program in Nigeria designed to prepare doctors for specialization. Resident doctors play a critical role in patient management and interdisciplinary collaboration, including aiding referral to rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy. However, evidence suggests that the utilization of physiotherapy services largely depends on physicians’ awareness and perception of its role. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and perception of physiotherapy among resident doctors in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 169 resident doctors in UBTH, selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated instruments. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of physiotherapy, perception of the profession, and factors influencing both. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v26). Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to summarize responses. Results: Of the 169 participants, 62.1% were male and 49.1% were aged 31–45 years. Most respondents (89.9%) identified a degree as the qualification required to practice physiotherapy, and 59.8% reported five years of training. However, 74.0% believed that a doctor’s referral was mandatory before patients could access physiotherapy. While 96.4% recognized physiotherapy as essential in rehabilitation and 60.9% considered it first-line management for musculoskeletal disorders, only 41.4% had personally consulted physiotherapists. Overall, 62.1% demonstrated satisfactory perception of physiotherapy, while 32.0% exhibited good perception. Key factors influencing knowledge and perception included clinical case outcomes (55.0%), interprofessional communication (55.0%), and research findings (46.2%).
Conclusion: Resident doctors in UBTH demonstrated good knowledge and largely positive perception of physiotherapy, although misconceptions about physiotherapy autonomy and limited awareness of practice settings persist. Strengthening undergraduate exposure, interprofessional education, and clinical collaboration may improve referral practices and enhance integration of physiotherapy in patient care.