Impact of Living (Surface) Anatomy module as continuous professional development program for practicing physiotherapists

Background: It is often presumed that physiotherapists need to be thorough in their knowledge in gross anatomy prior to learning new skills or therapeutic techniques. We implemented a Living (Surface) Anatomy module for physiotherapists, prior to the teaching of therapeutic techniques, in one of the continuous professional development (CPD) programs as a supportive venture for their clinical practice. The present study intended to evaluate the impact of a CPD program on reinforcing practicing physiotherapists' knowledge, skills, and attitude for their clinical practice. Methods: A 1-day workshop was conducted on living (surface) anatomy for practicing physiotherapists (n = 27) through a CPD program. This training included manual muscle testing and body painting of selected muscles of trunk and limbs. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to analyze the impact of the module on improvement in participants' knowledge and skills. In addition, participants were requested to respond to a questionnaire (15 items) on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Analysis of the pre- and post-test scores revealed a significant increase (34.6%) in surface anatomy knowledge. Majority of the participants opined that the workshop was organized effectively (100%) and the modules helped them to become aware of the lacunae in their knowledge (100%). They also echoed that they realized the need for continuous self-directed learning (100%) and responded that they would attempt to apply whatever they learned through the workshop in their clinical practice (96%). The overall satisfaction score reported by the participants was 9, on a rating scale ranging from 1 to 10 (1 = very poor; 10 = excellent). Conclusion: The CPD was well received by the participants, as evident from their feedback. The present study results demonstrated that the CPD had a positive impact on the participants' knowledge, skills, and attitude.