Physica1 Therapy Program, University of Colorado, 3121 E. 17th Avenue, C244, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Tel 303-724-9597.
J Allied Health. 2024 Fall;53(3):196-202.
Student debt has become a significant problem for the profession of physical therapy. Higher debt levels can impact mental health and professional and personal decisions. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has recommended improving physical therapy students' financial literacy. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess financial knowledge and anticipated student debt in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students entering two programs.
A financial knowledge survey consisting of 24 questions assessing 4 domains was disseminated by two methods to matriculating DPT students. Additional questions gathered demographic information, self-assessment of financial knowledge, anticipated student debt at graduation, and awareness and utilization of APTA financial resources.
Survey response rate was 80%, with 125 students completing the survey. The mean score was 57% of questions answered correctly. 61% of students estimated loan amounts at graduation to be > $80,000, 46% > $100,000 and 18% > $150,000. 85% of students either had no awareness of the APTA financial education platform or had not accessed it.
Scores were above those in previous studies on health professions students, but student loan literacy scores were below those of other college students. Due to the high amounts of anticipated education debt, DPT programs should increase awareness of APTA financial education resources and incorporate financial literacy education into their curricula.
学生债务已成为物理治疗专业的一个重大问题。较高的债务水平可能会影响心理健康以及专业和个人决策。美国物理治疗协会（APTA）建议提高物理治疗学生的金融知识素养。本试点研究的目的是评估进入两个项目的物理治疗博士（DPT）学生的金融知识和预期学生债务。
通过两种方法向入学的 DPT 学生分发了一份由 24 个问题组成的金融知识调查，该调查评估了 4 个领域。其他问题收集了人口统计学信息、对金融知识的自我评估、毕业时的预期学生债务以及对 APTA 财务资源的意识和利用情况。
调查的回复率为 80%，有 125 名学生完成了调查。平均得分为答对问题的 57%。61%的学生估计毕业时的贷款金额超过 80,000 美元，46%超过 100,000 美元，18%超过 150,000 美元。85%的学生要么对 APTA 金融教育平台没有意识，要么没有访问过该平台。
分数高于之前对健康专业学生的研究，但学生贷款知识分数低于其他大学生。由于预期的教育债务数额很高，DPT 项目应提高对 APTA 金融教育资源的认识，并将金融知识教育纳入其课程。
