CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF SCOLIOSIS IN PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MOSTAR

Abstract

Introduction: In Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States (USA), it was pointed out that
knowledge of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) among physiotherapy students is limited when compared to the
2011 guidelines of the Society for Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment of Scoliosis (SOSORT).
There is no such data for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Early detection of scoliosis and proper initial
treatment is key to effective care, therefore physiotherapists should be aware of the basic criteria for
diagnosis and indications of treatment.
Objective: Asses the current knowledge of scoliosis in physiotherapy students at the University of
Mostar.
Subjects and methods: A previously designed and tested 10-question survey, including knowledge of
the 2011 SOSORT guidelines, was rewritten for the purposes of the study. The questions are designed
to asses the knowledge about the definition, cause, development, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and
correction of scoliosis. The study was conducted in 2020 and 2021, and the subjects were 139 senior
students of physiotherapy.
Results: The analysis showed that 83.45% of students recognized when IS was likely to develop, but
only 36.69% stated that the etiology of IS was unknown. Eleven percent of students mistakenly defined
IS as a two-dimensional deformity, and only 10% successfully recognized the prevalence of IS in the
population. Only 10.79% knew the criteria for diagnosis; however, 88% could not recognize the correct
approach to treatment through therapeutic exercise; 37.41% of subjects were able to correctly identify
when orthosis is recommended for IS.
Conclusion: We can conclude that with only 38.85% of students able to answer more than 50% of the
survey questions accurately, there is a clear lack of knowledge about appropriate IS diagnosis and
treatment, and these results could directly affect the information these patients receive in primary care.