[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to understand the coping strategies used during physical therapy clinical practice. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty-eight of 77 physical therapy students (88.3%) responded to questionnaires, including a tri-axial coping scale and a scale of stress reactions after clinical practice (median age=22 years; 45 were male, 23 were female; 37 third-year students, 31 fourth-year students). The scores of males and females were compared via descriptive statistics. In addition, stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed. Dummy variables were created based on the median scores of stress reactions (0=slight reactions; 1=severe reactions), and were used as the dependent variables. [Results] The stress reaction scores of female (median score=7 points) were significantly higher than those of male students (5 points). The following significant logistic regression equation was obtained: log (p / (1-p))=1.78 + 1.96 [gender (0=male; 1=female)] + 0.30 (buck passing strategy). The odds ratios for gender and buck passing were 7.12 and 1.34, respectively. [Conclusion] Clinical practice educators should be aware that female students and those that use buck passing are more likely to suffer from severe stress reactions during physical therapy clinical practice.
Keywords: Clinical practice; Coping strategies; Physical therapy students.