The effects and importance of anatomy knowledge of Trakya University Faculty of Health Sciences Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation students on their compentence in clinical practice

"The effects and ımportance of anatomy knowledge of Trakya University faculty of health sciences physiotherapy and rehabilitation students on their competence in clinical practice", Trakya University, Institute of Health Science, Anatomy Department, Master Thesis, Edirne, 2025. Background and Aim: This study examines the impact of anatomical knowledge on clinical practice courses within physiotherapy and rehabilitation education. The aim of this research is to reveal the relationship between anatomy education and clinical applications, thereby contributing to the further development of anatomy instruction in this context. Materials and Methods:The opinions of 88 fourth-year Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation students taking clinical practice courses at Trakya University Hospital were collected online via a survey form created using Google Forms. Results: 94% of the students (n=83) stated that their knowledge of anatomy increased their success in clinical practice courses. All students (100%, n=88) reported that anatomy facilitated case evaluations, and 94% (n=83) emphasized the role of anatomical knowledge in the assessment and treatment of diseases. Additionally, 92% (n=81) noted that as their anatomical knowledge improved, their self-confidence increased. Students indicated that working with anatomical models enhanced their clinical skills and contributed positively to their performance in clinical settings. The most significant difficulties due to insufficient anatomical knowledge were reported in hand rehabilitation, followed by orthopedic rehabilitation. Moreover, 88% (n=77) stated that their clinical performance was negatively affected in such cases. Conclusion: This study reveals that anatomy education supports the development of knowledge and skills in physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinical practice and influences overall efficiency. It concludes that anatomy education should move away from rote learning and adopt visually enriched, three-dimensional, and clinically integrated teaching methods. It is expected that this study will contribute to future research in the field and raise awareness regarding the integration of clinical applications in anatomy education. Keywords: Anatomy education, clinical practice courses, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, clinical anatomy, physiotherapy clinical practice.