A Survey on Knowledge and Understanding of Career Advancement among Physical Therapists in Ministry of Public Health’s Hospitals, Thailand

Abstract

This survey research aimed to examine knowledge and understanding of position structure and career paths among physical therapists in public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; to study relationships between personal factors and levels of knowledge and understanding; and to identify barriers to career advancement. Data were collected using an online questionnaire from 534 physical therapists, selected through stratified random sampling by region and hospital size. Results showed moderate levels of knowledge and understanding in both position structure and career paths (mean 3.12 ± 0.78 out of full score 5) and academic work production (mean 2.83 ± 0.84). Correlation analysis revealed significant but very low relationships between work experience and understanding of position qualifications and career paths (rs = -0.0991, p < 0.05), and between current position and understanding of academic writing (rs = 0.0867, p < 0.05). Major barriers identified included organizational structure and management systems, workload and time management, and knowledge and skills in academic work production. These findings can serve as foundational data for developing robust support systems, adjusting workload balance, and enhancing academic skills to promote sustainable career advancement in physical therapy profession.