Physiotherapists' ethical behavior in professional practice: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Ethics
• Professional Ethics
• Physiotherapy Practice

Background:

• Ethics is a core competence in health professions.
• Increased autonomy in physiotherapy practice correlates with more frequent ethical dilemmas.
• Understanding ethical challenges is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ethical dimensions of the physiotherapist-patient relationship.
• To assess the quality and focus of ethics training for physiotherapists.
• To determine if physiotherapists identify and apply ethical principles in practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory and descriptive study design.
• Data collection via semi-structured interviews with 15 physiotherapists.
• Content analysis using Krippendorf's methodology.

Main Results:

• Four key categories emerged: clinical relationship ethics, ethics training, professional attitudes, and practice experiences.
• The physiotherapist-patient relationship is influenced by practitioner attitudes, values, and experiences.
• Ethics training is often undervalued and lacks focus on professional attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Physiotherapist ethical practice is shaped by personal attitudes and experiences, often prioritizing Beneficence and Non-Maleficence.
• Current physiotherapy ethics education requires enhancement to better address professional attitudes and practical ethical decision-making.
• Improved ethics training is essential for physiotherapists to navigate complex clinical situations effectively.