Continuing its scientific productivity in the field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (English Program) at Istanbul Gelişim University has added another achievement to its record of internationally indexed publications. The article titled “Ageism in Healthcare: Attitudes of Physiotherapists” has been published in Physical & Occupational Therapy In Geriatrics, a journal indexed in the Scopus database under the Q3 category, thereby contributing to the academic literature.
The research addresses the increasingly visible concept of “ageism” in healthcare from a physiotherapy perspective. Ageism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or differential treatment directed at individuals solely because of their age. Particularly in the context of a rapidly aging global population, this issue represents a critical concern for healthcare services. The study aims to examine physiotherapists’ attitudes toward older adults using scientific methods and to reveal the potential impact of these attitudes on rehabilitation processes.
The global rise in the elderly population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the growing need to preserve functional independence have led physiotherapists to work more intensively with older individuals. In this context, healthcare professionals’ perspectives toward older adults can directly influence many aspects of care, from treatment planning to clinical communication. The study emphasizes that physiotherapists’ positive or negative attitudes toward elderly patients may play a determining role in clinical decision-making processes, including treatment approach, motivation, expectation levels, and functional goal setting.
The findings indicate that physiotherapists’ attitudes toward older individuals are multidimensional. Variables such as professional experience, educational background, clinical exposure in geriatrics, and cultural factors may influence these attitudes. This highlights once again the importance of strengthening geriatric and elderly health content within undergraduate and graduate education programs.
Furthermore, the study demonstrates that ageism is not merely an individual attitude problem but also a structural issue associated with healthcare systems, service delivery models, and societal perceptions. Accordingly, the article recommends increasing professional awareness training, expanding evidence-based geriatric rehabilitation practices, and strengthening multidisciplinary teamwork approaches.
Published in an internationally indexed journal, this study enhances the scientific productivity and global academic visibility of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul Gelişim University. At the same time, it provides an important academic foundation for discussions regarding the role of physiotherapists in an aging society, contributing both to the literature and to clinical practice.
As the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul Gelişim University, we congratulate Research Assistant Öznur Kaya SAĞLAM on her valuable publication in an internationally indexed journal and wish her continued success in her academic endeavors. We sincerely thank her for her significant contributions to our department’s scientific productivity and international academic visibility.
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