Award Date

5-15-2025

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Committee Member

Keoni Kins

Second Committee Member

Lisa Taylor

Third Committee Member

Daniel Young

Fourth Committee Member

Kai-Yu Ho

Number of Pages

48

Abstract

Access to healthcare in rural areas remains a significant challenge, with rural communities facing unique barriers such as limited healthcare providers, increased travel distances, and lower insurance coverage rates. Nevada exemplifies this issue, ranking 45th in the United States in access to physical therapy services, with particularly low provider availability in its rural regions. Research suggests that clinical education experiences in rural and underserved areas may encourage healthcare professionals to practice in these communities post-graduation. This study examined the relationship between clinical experiences in rural and underserved settings amongst University of Nevada, Las Vegas Physical Therapy (UNLVPT) students’ interest in practicing in these areas. A total of 145 students completed pre- and post-surveys assessing their satisfaction with their clinical experiences, perceived benefits and barriers of rural practice, and intent to work in rural or underserved settings after graduation. Results indicated a positive correlation between student satisfaction with their clinical experience and increased interest in practicing in these settings. However, there was no significant correlation between rural upbringing and intent to practice in rural areas. The primary barriers to rural employment included distance from family, isolation, and limited resources, while the most recognized benefit of rural practice was a strong connection to the community. Although clinical experiences appear to modestly influence students’ interest in rural or underserved practice, further research is needed to assess long-term career decisions. These findings highlight the potential of rural clinical education programs to address healthcare workforce shortages while emphasizing the need for additional incentives and support systems to encourage rural practice.

Keywords

physical therapy; rural health; underserved health; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; clinical rotations; clinical experiences

Disciplines

Physical Therapy

File Format

pdf

File Size

2230 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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