臺灣六年制物理治療教育的創建

Establishment of the Six-Year Doctor of Physical Therapy Education in Taiwan

自1967年於臺大創立亞洲第1個學士學位之物理治療專業基礎教育機構，物理治療專業不斷追求教育提升，回應社會需要。1992年於臺大設立物理治療學系，1997年於臺大成立國內第1所物理治療研究所，2004年臺大成立第1所物理治療學博士班，2008年推動臺大醫院成立「物理治療中心」。因應未來高齡社會需求及國際趨勢，經過多次物理治療教育研討會，確立教育改革願景。2016年臺大與陽明大學建立六年制專業初階博士級物理治療師培育教育（Doctor of Physical Therapy，DPT），進一步提升物理治療師的專業素養和能力，增加特色物理治療實習及實習場域。六年制課程培養鑑別診斷與臨床決策能力，提高初級照護能力，強調培育專業之當責、自主與倡議領導能力、跨領域溝通的人際關係以及多元場域實習的經驗。訓練臨床物理治療師，增加鑑別診斷學、藥物學、營養學、臨床影像學等列為必修課程。學生可依興趣發展選修研究、運動與健康促進、生命發展與長期照護、以及專業發展與管理等模組。2022年第1屆六年制專業初階博士級物理治療學生畢業，開啟臺灣物理治療教育和服務的新頁，為亞洲地區第1批DPT畢業的物理治療師，為臺灣健康服務注入新生命。

The first entry level education institution for physical therapy with a bachelor's degree in Asia was founded at National Taiwan University in 1967. Since then, the physiotherapy profession continuously pursues educational improvement and responds to social needs, including the establishment of the Department of Physiotherapy at National Taiwan University in 1992, the establishment of the first physiotherapy research institute at National Taiwan University in 1997, the establishment of the first physiotherapy doctoral program at National Taiwan University in 1997, and the establishment of the ＂Physical Therapy Center＂ in National Taiwan University Hospital in 2008. In response to the social needs and international trends of the elderly society, the vision of education reform has reached a consensus through several physiotherapy education seminars. In 2016, National Taiwan University and Yang Ming University established a six-year entry level physiotherapy education program to further enhance the professional quality and ability of physiotherapists, and to increase the diversified physiotherapy practice and practice fields. The six-year program cultivates the ability of differential diagnosis and clinical decision-making, improves the ability of primary care, emphasizes the professional responsibility, autonomy and initiative leadership, interpersonal communication and interpersonal experience in multiple fields. Thus, differential diagnosis, pharmacology, nutrition, and clinical imaging courses are added as required courses. Students can choose the elective courses, such as areas for research, exercise and health promotion, life development and long-term care, professional development and management according to their interests. The first six-year physiotherapy students have graduated in 2022, opening a new page for physiotherapy education and services in Taiwan. They are also as the first physiotherapists graduated from Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the Asia region, breathing new life into Taiwan's health care system.