Burn Rehabilitation: Evaluation of Physiotherapists' Knowledge and Awareness Levels

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of physiotherapists working in Turkey about burn rehabilitation. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March and June 2025 and data were collected using Google Form. A total of 324 people were included in the study. The level of knowledge and awareness of the participants about burn rehabilitation was evaluated with 28 questions created by taking expert opinion. Results: While 25.6 % of participants had experience in burn rehabilitation, only 1.2 % frequently encountered burn patients. Although 60.5 % had taken courses on burn rehabilitation, only 15.1 % considered their knowledge sufficient. Correct response rates to key knowledge questions were 78.7 % for exercise applicability, 79.6 % for timing, 54.6 % for the most common burn type in Turkey, 35.8 % for edema management, and 13 % for pressure garment duration, revealing gaps in clinical knowledge. Additionally, 92.9 % believed early physiotherapy improves recovery, and 98.4 % reported positive effects on quality of life. Discussion: Our results indicate that although most physiotherapists had taken courses on burn rehabilitation, their knowledge remains insufficient, whereas their awareness is high, underscoring the need for targeted training and certification programs.