RESUMEN
[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of disability awareness educational program of university students in the department of physical therapy on reducing prejudice against people with disabilities and increasing positive attitudes toward people with disabilities. [Participants and Methods] Students who participated in the disability awareness educational program were selected as experiment group and 15 students who did not take program were selected as control group. [Results] First, in the comparisons between the control and experimental group, there was no difference in the overall prejudice on people with disabilities and positive attitudes toward people with disabilities before the disability awareness educational program. However, there was a significant difference in the overall prejudice and positive attitudes between two groups after the disability awareness educational program. Second, in the comparisons between pretest and posttest, there was no significant difference in the overall prejudice on people with disabilities in control group. However, in the comparisons between pretest and posttest, there was a significant difference in the overall prejudice in experimental group. [Conclusion] It is necessary to provide disability awareness educational program for the university students in the department of physical therapy to reduce the overall prejudices against people with disabilities and increase positive toward people with disabilities.
RESUMEN
[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine prejudices and attitudes of students in the department of physical therapy, in order to suggest basic data for constructing an effective program to develop a positive attitude toward people with disabilities and lower social distance from them. [Subjects and Methods] For this study, students in the department of physical therapy participate in the survey examining prejudices and attitude towards people with disabilities. [Results] First, there were statistically significant differences in the prejudice against people with disabilities among student groups divided by whether they had contact on a frequent basis currently with those who have disabilities. Second, there were statistically significant differences in the prejudice against people with disabilities among student groups divided by whether they had an experience of being harmed by people with disabilities. Third, there was a correlation among prejudices against people with disabilities with each other that is articulated in the eighth domain. Finally, as a result of regression analysis, the students' attitudes towards people with disabilities were explained appropriately by the prejudices about performance of daily tasks and NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome. [Conclusion] It is crucial to create an environment where University students in the department of physical therapy can have positive interactions with people with disabilities, to reduce the overall prejudices, and specifically, the prejudices about performance of daily tasks and about NIMBY syndrome.