Background: Vacillation between conventional healthcare professionals and traditional bone setters (TBS) for musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders is still common despite shortcomings and complications associated with TBS services. Objectives: This study assessed knowledge and attitude about the practice of TBS and its use for MSK disorders among Nigerian rural dwellers. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a multistage sampling method based on the World Health Organization procedures for a community-based survey to recruit 398 (213 males and 185 females) respondents from two randomly selected rural communities. A validated questionnaire adapted from relevant previous studies was used as a tool in this study. A household was served as the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and 60 PSUs were randomly selected. Results: The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of MSK disorders were 27.6% and 25.6%, respectively. Based on 12-month prevalence, neck (16, 21.6%) and shoulder (12, 17.6%) were the most affected body parts. The lifetime (i.e. "ever use") and point ("current use") prevalence of treatment by TBS were 19.3% and 3.8%, respectively. Among those who had ever experienced MSK disorders, 13.3% had experienced only treatment by TBS services, whereas 6.0% had used both treatment by TBS and orthodox medicine. Common services received by TBS were massage (61.0%), splinting (14.3%), traction (11.7%), and scarification (10.4%). Cost-effectiveness (42.9%), distance/accessibility (35.1%), and cultural beliefs (15.9%) were the major reasons for TBS patronage. Using TBS services was not significantly associated with socio-demographic variables (P > 0.05). Also, 57.3% of the respondents acknowledged that TBS services were associated with complications, such as gangrene (19.7%), malunion/nonunion of fractures (36.0%), paralysis (19.3%), joint instability (7.5%), and chronic osteomyelitis (6.6%). Users of the TBS services believed that they were effective in maintaining a healthy life (40.7%), with fewer side effects (30.0%), more effective (11.7%), and healthier than orthodox medicine (23.1%). Conclusions: There was a positive attitude towards treatment by TBS for MSK disorders, despite the complications and shortcomings that arise from the practice. Cost-effectiveness, socio-cultural beliefs, and easy access have increased patronage of treatment by TBS regardless of the socio-demographic characteristics of the people.

Background: Bullying is an unexpressed part and parcel of medical education but it is largely unexplored in physiotherapy. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and nineteen clinical physiotherapy students from three purposively selected Federal Universities in Nigeria participated in this study. Following a cross-sectional design, the Students Perception of Professor Bullying Questionnaire (SPPBQ) was used to obtain information on bullying. The SPPBQ includes a working definition of lecturer bullying followed by other sections inquiring about lecturers bullying experiences. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, bullying experiences and availability of adequate policy and support on bullying. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used analyze data. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education were 98.6 and 99.1%. 94.5% of the respondents had witnessed physiotherapy students bullying and there was a 100% rate of 'no attempt' to stop a physiotherapy lecturer from bullying. 38.4 and 44.7% of the respondents believed there was adequate school policy and support available on bullying. There was no significant association between bullying and each of age ( 2 = 0.117, p = 0.943), gender ( 2 = 0.001, p = 0.974), level of study ( 2 = 0.000, p = 0.995) and any specific university ( 2 = 1.343, p = 0.511). Conclusion: There is high lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria, which are largely unchallenged or redressed. Being a clinical physiotherapy student ordinarily predisposes to bullying without necessary contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Background: Bullying is an unexpressed part and parcel of medical education but it is largely unexplored in physiotherapy. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria.Methods: Two hundred and nineteen clinical physiotherapy students from three purposively selected Federal Universities in Nigeria participated in this study. Following a cross-sectional design, the Students Perception of Professor Bullying Questionnaire (SPPBQ) was used to obtain information on bullying. The SPPBQ includes a working definition of lecturer bullying followed by two sections inquiring about lecturers bullying experiences. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, availability of adequate policy and support and the different forms of bullying experienced. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used analyze data. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: Lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education was 98.6% and 99.1% respectively. 94.5% of the respondents had witnessed physiotherapy students bullying and there was a 100% rate of ‘no attempt’ to stop a physiotherapy lecturer from bullying. There was no significant association between bullying and each of age (𝜒2=0.117, p=0.943), gender (𝜒2=0.001,p=0.974), university (𝜒2=1.343,p=0.511) and level of study (𝜒2=0.000,p=0.995). Conclusion: There is high lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria, which are largely unchallenged or redressed. Also, being a clinical physiotherapy student makes prone to bullying without necessary contributions of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Background: Bullying is an unexpressed part and parcel of medical education but it is largely unexplored in physiotherapy. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and nineteen clinical physiotherapy students from three purposively selected Federal Universities in Nigeria participated in this study. Following a cross-sectional design, the Students Perception of Professor Bullying Questionnaire (SPPBQ) was used to obtain information on bullying. The SPPBQ includes a working definition of lecturer bullying followed by two sections inquiring about lecturers bullying experiences. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, availability of adequate policy and support and the different forms of bullying experienced. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used analyze data. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: Lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education was 98.6% and 99.1% respectively. 94.5% of the respondents had witnessed physiotherapy students bullying and there was a 100% rate of ‘no attempt’ to stop a physiotherapy lecturer from bullying. There was no significant association between bullying and each of age (𝜒2=0.117, p=0.943), gender (𝜒2=0.001,p=0.974), university (𝜒2=1.343,p=0.511) and level of study (𝜒2=0.000,p=0.995). Conclusion: There is high lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria, which are largely unchallenged or redressed. Also, being a clinical physiotherapy student makes prone to bullying without necessary contributions of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Background: Caregivers of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) play an important role in the habilitation of their wards. Their knowledge and beliefs about CP may affect their disposition to habilitation and the quality of care and habilitation their wards would receive. Knowledge and beliefs of informal caregivers of children with CP in Southwest, Nigeriawere investigated in this study. Methods: Ninety-three informal caregivers (relatives or friends) of children with CP who routinely provide an average of 3-5hours of care per week without pay were surveyed. A 56-item questionnaire was used to collect information onsocio-demographics, knowledge and beliefs of the informal caregivers about CP. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics of mean, percentages and standard deviation. Results: Participants were aged 36.6 ±8.6 years and their age ranged from 16-66 years. Majority of the respondents (n = 85; 91.4%) were female. Most of the participants (n = 87; 93.5%) were married and (62.4%) had completed tertiary  education. Sixty six(71%) respondents reported good knowledge while 9(9.7%) reported poor knowledge about cerebral palsy. Most of the caregivers responded correctly in expressing their belief, causes and management of cerebral palsy. Conclusions: Informal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in southwestern Nigeria had good knowledge and positive beliefs about cerebral palsy hence the need to ensure that they seek appropriate intervention to this condition.