An assessment of physiotherapists' employment time and status in Turkey, Türkiye'de fizyoterapistlerin is bulma sürelerinin ve istihdam durumlarinin degerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Purpose: The number and quota of faculties/schools' undergraduate physiotherapy and rehabilitation (PTR) programs are substantially increasing in every passing year according to the Student Selection and Placement Centre (SSPC) data. The study aimed to investigate the time to find a job and the status of employability of new PTR graduates, increased by more than 300% in 2012-2016. Methods: A questionnaire which was aimed to investigate time to find a job, the area of work, and current work was prepared and was shared electronically between January and March 2017 for newly graduate physiotherapists, between 2012 and 2016. Results: The number of physiotherapists graduated between 2012 and 2016 was calculated as 6003 according to the quota of Higher Education Council (HEC) and SSPC. The 1120 (18.6%) physiotherapists answered the questionnaire. A statistically significant difference was found between the period to find a job after graduation and graduation years (p<0.05). Compared to years 2012-2014, the decline in the employment rate in the first, the third, and the sixth months in 2015 and 2016 is remarkable. The 69.5% of the respondents were 2016 graduates who could not find a job. It was determined that pediatric rehabilitation is the primary area (44.6%) where physiotherapists work. Conclusion: Increased numbers and quota of PTR programs affect negatively the employment time and status of the newly graduated physiotherapists. Although the number of physiotherapists is still inadequate compared to the population of Turkey, the employment is a problem. In this context, we believe that there is a need for studies that examine the barriers and solution proposals for employability. © 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.