# Exploring Medical Students' Knowledge and Perceptions of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialty in Qassim University

## TL;DR

This study explores how well medical students at Qassim University understand the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and finds that their knowledge is low to moderate.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into medical students' awareness and perceptions of PM&R in a Saudi Arabian context.

## Key findings

- 38.5% of students supported including PM&R in the undergraduate curriculum.
- 78.8% of students agreed there is no specialization in PM&R.
- 60.8% believed lack of PM&R in Saudi hospitals reduced its recognition.

## Abstract

Objectives: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a medical branch that aims to manage, prevent, and diagnose people who are disabled due to disease, disorder, or injury. The purpose of this study is to explore the level of awareness and scope of the PM&R specialty among medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, with 287 medical students. Cochran's method was used to establish the sample size of 287 medical students with a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence level. An online survey was conducted among undergraduate students at Qassim University's Medical College. SPSS was utilized to study the characteristics of the population demographics. An independent t-test was used to calculate the significant values of each questionnaire. A significant value of <0.05 was considered as a significant value.

Results: Among 287 medical students, 38.5% of students agreed to PM&R course inclusion in the undergraduate curriculum. 78.8% of students agreed with no specialization in PM&R, and 60.8% agreed that the lack of PM&R in Saudi area hospitals contributed to less recognition. Overall, medical students had low to moderate knowledge of PM&R.

Conclusion: The study presents the need to train medical students in PM&R during their medical studies, develop more recognition, and integrate musculoskeletal and physical checkup skills among medical students. Moreover, it should have a practical implication across the nation so that more medical students develop knowledge and skills.