Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons)

  Institution: Private: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Physiotherapists provide services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. Physiotherapist practice includes the provision of services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by the process of aging or that of injury, disorders, or diseases. Physiotherapist practice is concerned with identifying and maximising quality of life and functional movement potential, within the spheres of promotion, prevention, maintenance, intervention/treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional and social well-being.

About the programme

This course was established to fulfil societal and market demand on physiotherapy profession. Currently, only limited numbers of higher education institutions in Malaysia are offering this course and UTAR will be one of the pioneer academic institutions to offer such a programme. It is envisaged that this course would produce graduates who would help fulfil UTAR’s vision and mission.

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons.) programme at UTAR aims to:

• Provide the educational experience, practical training and technical competence necessary for the practice of physiotherapy.
• Prepare graduates to work as physiotherapists who are professionally competent and who demonstrate good ethical judgment and compassion in the treatment of patients.
• Train students to develop good communication skills, critical thinking, leadership quality, ability to make independent clinical decision, and to engage in continual professional development as part of life-long learning.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

• To provide the theoretical knowledge that underpins the practice of physical therapy
• To provide practical training for the utilization of the diverse assessment tools for patient evaluation with different physical problems
• To provide practical training in the use of various treatment modalities relevant to physiotherapy practice
• To provide clinical knowledge and experience for effective interview, physical examination, evaluation, assessment and treatment of patients
• To provide education in the organizational, psychosocial, behavioral, and ethical aspects of health care service and practice to enable graduates to operate effectively both within health care organisation and in the community
• To include professional attitudes, integrity, ethical values and conduct to promote graduates who are sensitive and responsible in practice of their profession
• To develop graduates with requisite soft skill including communication, managerial, teamwork and problem solving skills to promote leadership and entrepreneurship
• To train graduates with an enquiring mind and equip them with knowledge of ICT and the scientific process to promote creativity and innovation in research, and the ability to engage in lifelong learning and development

LEARNING OUTCOME

Upon completion of the programme, the students are expected to

• Demonstrate strong foundational knowledge in the discipline underpinning physiotherapy
• Apply theoretical and practical knowledge, and demonstrate competence in patients examination, evaluation, diagnosis, assessment and care management.
• Apply practical knowledge and skill and use evidence based practice in instituting appropriate therapeutic interventional procedure for various physical dysfunctions or disabilities
• Apply knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement to determine situations (eg: medical/surgical emergencies, complications) beyond their capability to handle and refer appropriately
• Communicate effectively in verbal and written form with individuals from diverse socio-cultural and psychological backgrounds, and different spiritual belief systems including patients, their family/caregiver, peers, professional colleagues and the stakeholders at large
• Demonstrate the capacity of constructive empathy for patients and sensitivities towards the community, culture and environment
• Demonstrate knowledge in the professional code of conduct and adhere to professional responsibility and ethical behaviour as a clinical practitioner
• Apply softs kill to effectively manage and coordinate daily activities, to work constructively as part of a team to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, and for enhancement of entrepreneurship
• Use critical thinking and reasoning to manage ambiguities and gaps in knowledge, and for the pursuit of lifelong professional learning in academic and career development
• Apply knowledge of research process and methodology for engaging in research and development activities.

Career & Post-graduate opportunity

UTAR graduates will help alleviate the current national shortage of qualified graduate physiotherapists, and be the trainers for future generation of physiotherapists. Graduates will be eligible for registration with the Malaysian Physiotherapy Association (MPA). Graduates can expect to find national or overseas employment as physiotherapist in various health sectors such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, geriatric care centres, physiotherapy clinic, community settings, health & fitness clubs, education and research etc. Graduates may also apply for post-graduate education locally or internationally at institutes of higher education

Source: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman