The similarity of the administrator responses for the 2 studies suggests that the data from this study may have some value when generalized to other states. Facilities in existence for 3 or more years were chosen in order to improve the possibility of prolonged administrator experience with the physical therapy staff of the facility. In retrospect, the addition of a question regarding the administrator s number of years in the facility might have provided an additional and more useful means of identifying the experience level of the administrator with facility physical therapists. Most physical therapy schools require additional courses in sociology, psychology, abnormal psychology, and developmental psychology. It is usual for physical therapists to regularly participate in continuing education programs, including those in geriatric care.
Physical therapists are also cognizant of the concept of self-assessment of skills and knowledge.
It has been noted in previous studies that the education of physical therapists does not include substantial training in geriatric care. The program directors indicated an inability to further expand the curriculum to include additional materials due to time constraints. A study published in the journal. Age and Aging surveyed the career plans of physical therapy students regarding geriatric medicine, and concluded that many physical therapy students did not feel sufficiently involved in the care of the elderly or with the practice of geriatric medicine. Another study published in Physical Therapy , in 1988, indicated that the journal published on average 6 articles a year with a geriatric orientation.