Pedagogical concerns of physical therapist professors and their perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT In health professions education, professors usually face some difficulties and concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified these challenges, leading to changes in teaching methods and new concerns. This study aimed to identify undergraduate physical therapy professors’ concerns (PC) about the learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical therapists who served as undergraduate physical therapy professors in Brazil answered a questionnaire on PC (Teacher Concerns Questionnaire - TCQ), a sociodemographic profile questionnaire, and an open-ended question on the perception of changes in PC during the pandemic. A total of 187 physical therapist professors completed the questionary and had moderate PC (TCQ 49.6±10.5), with no association with the stage of their teaching career, age, and length of professional training. Participants in continuing education activities had higher PC. Of the participants, 94.1% reported changes in PC resulting from the pandemic. Therefore, professors who participate in continuing education activities are more concerned about the impact of their practice than those who do not participate. At the same time, these concerns seem to have changed during the pandemic.