Footer Cheryl Burditt, Tsegaye Hailu Seifu, Yitnagashaw Tesfaye Asnake, Mekonnen Wintana, Shiferaw Tizita Destaw, Abera Endashaw, Davis Alice
School of Physical Therapy, Regis University , Denver, CO , USA.
College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St. Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Front Public Health. 2017 Mar 21;5:51. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00051. eCollection 2017.
Ethiopia recently introduced the Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) degree at Addis Ababa University as a mechanism to increase the work force capacity of primary care providers in the health sector. The DPT program was supported by an international academic partnership and was designed to empower physiotherapists as leaders to move the profession forward. The curriculum was framed by core pedagogical principles and strategies and was phased into two programs. First, the 4-year Advanced Standing DPT program focused on developing registered Ethiopian physiotherapists with Bachelor of Science degrees as academic faculty. Second, these new faculty would then sustain a 6-year Generic DPT program that would matriculate students upon graduation from high school. The curriculum represented depth and breadth of foundation and clinical sciences, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, and interprofessional education opportunities. A leadership thread provided opportunities to develop skills necessary to effectively navigate and manage the challenges faced by the profession. The main outcomes included (1) an 8-year international partnership, (2) the academic performance of students, and (3) and leadership capabilities as demonstrated through activities and assignments. While the program has been criticized as an unnecessary extravagance for Ethiopia, the advantages of the DPT degree were revealed in a direct comparison to other academic physiotherapy programs in Ethiopia. In the end, because the DPT is new to the country, it will take time to fully understand the true impact within the Ethiopian health system.
埃塞俄比亚最近在亚的斯亚贝巴大学推出了物理治疗博士（DPT）学位，以此作为增加卫生部门初级保健提供者劳动力能力的一种机制。DPT项目得到了一个国际学术伙伴关系的支持，旨在使物理治疗师成为推动该专业发展的领导者。课程由核心教学原则和策略构建，并分为两个项目。首先，为期4年的高级DPT项目专注于培养拥有理学学士学位的埃塞俄比亚注册物理治疗师成为学术教员。其次，这些新教员随后将维持一个为期6年的普通DPT项目，该项目将招收高中毕业生。课程涵盖了基础科学和临床科学的深度与广度、循证实践、临床推理技能以及跨专业教育机会。一条领导力主线提供了培养有效应对和管理该专业所面临挑战所需技能的机会。主要成果包括：（1）为期8年的国际伙伴关系；（2）学生的学业表现；（3）通过活动和作业所展示的领导能力。尽管该项目被批评为埃塞俄比亚不必要的奢侈之举，但与埃塞俄比亚其他学术物理治疗项目的直接比较揭示了DPT学位的优势。最终，由于DPT在该国尚属新生事物，要全面了解其在埃塞俄比亚卫生系统中的真正影响还需要时间。
