Massage perceptions and attitudes of undergraduate pre-professional health sciences students: a cross-sectional survey in one U.S. university.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Attitudes and beliefs about massage therapy have been explored among health professionals and health profession students, but not for undergraduate preprofessional health sciences students.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey sought to determine pre-professional health students' attitudes and perceptions toward massage therapy and determine the extent demographic variables such as age, gender, race, along with lifetime massage experience are associated with neutral/negative perceptions.

Results

N = 129 undergraduate students completed the Attitudes Toward Massage scale and 7 supplemental items pertaining to sexuality and therapist gender preference along with questions regarding lifetime massage utilization. Prevalence of massage therapy utilization was 35.

SUBMITTER: Munk N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7346672 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature