The Comparison of Self-Efficacy Belief Levels on Anatomy Education between the Undergraduate Students from Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department and the Associate Students from Vocational School of Health Services in Western Black Sea Region

Abstract

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (PTR) undergraduate degree departments and Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) associate degree departments train healthcare professionals, which is important for both continuance of human health and treatment of various illnesses. Anatomic structures underlie the illnesses that these departments treat and care.Therefore, the graduates of these departments should have favorable knowledge of anatomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the self-efficacy belief levels about anatomy education of PTR students as undergraduate and VSHS students as associate degree.94 students from PTR department (age: 21.94±1.19) and 100 students from VSHS (age: 20.16±1.58) have participated in the study. Data collection questionnaire (gender, age, geographical region where he/she came from, residential place) and Anatomy Self-Efficacy Belief scale (ASEB) have been implemented on the participants.As a consequence, when the Anatomy Self-Efficacy Belief levels of undergraduate and associate degree students are compared, no significant difference has been found in total (p>0,05). However, when the answers given to the questions in self-efficacy belief level test are compared separately, a significant difference has been found in 4 questions (p<0,05). The reason for this is that the students of PTR department have more hours of anatomy lesson per week compared to the students of VSHS.As ASEB gets better, profession is done better in view of anatomy. This will help the graduates of both departments do their profession better and be more helpful to their patients.