Influence of Professional Values on Attitudes towards Professional Ethics in Future Physical Therapy Professionals

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the influence of professional values on attitudes towards professional ethics, as well as the influence of sociodemographic variables on attitudes and professional values in future physical therapy professionals. A total of 231 physical therapy students (53% women; mean age 22.30 (SD = 5.13 years; age range 18–49)) participated. Attitudes towards professional ethics (Attitudes Questionnaire towards Professional Ethics in Physical Therapy) and professional values (Axiological Estimation of Professional Values Questionnaire) were analyzed. Linear regressions were conducted to examine: (i) the statistical prediction of attitudes as a dependent variable, with professional values as independent variables; (ii) whether sociodemographic variables had a relationship with attitudes or professional values. Professional values explained 6.5% of the variance of attitudes towards professional ethics (F(1,230) = 16.08, p < 0.001)). In regard to sociodemographic characteristics, age explained 3% of the variance of attitudes (F(1,230) = 7.11, p < 0.01) and presence of relatives in healthcare explained 1.9% of the variance in professional values (F(1,230) = 4.35, p < 0.05)). These results suggest that an increased awareness of professional values is essential to maximizing the attitudes towards professional ethics in future physical therapy professionals in order to improve their future daily clinical practices.

Exploring levels of empathy and assertiveness in final year physiotherapy students during clinical placements

“…Marqués-Sule et al 59 argue that the teaching of ethics should be established in each year of the university degree, even if it is transversal in each subject. Ethics is a fundamental pillar in the clinical training of physiotherapy students, and as Moreno-Segura et al 60 say, the human sensitivity of physiotherapy students should be explored to shape the design of ethics training in the physiotherapy curriculum, as ethics training undoubtedly also serves to train future professionals in patient safety 61 . Aguilar-Rodríguez et al 59 reinforce the idea of the importance of ethics training for future physiotherapists, as it will enable them to identify situations in clinical practice in which bioethical principles may be violated in patient care during their clinical training.…”

“…Aguilar-Rodríguez et al 59 reinforce the idea of the importance of ethics training for future physiotherapists, as it will enable them to identify situations in clinical practice in which bioethical principles may be violated in patient care during their clinical training. As Marques-Sule et al 61 concluded, in general, future physiotherapists attach great importance to ethics training and its impact on their professional training. Ethical awareness is related to safety in clinical practice.…”

Physical Therapists’ Ethical and Moral Sensitivity: A STROBE-Compliant Cross-Sectional Study with a Special Focus on Gender Differences

“…Healthcare professionals clinical practice and quality of care of patients may be influenced by ethical aspects, such as ethical and moral sensitivity, that could affect their daily clinical practice. In this sense, ethics currently has an important role in healthcare professions and especially in the physical therapy field [1][2][3][4][5][6]. It is expected that healthcare professionals have extensive intellectual and practical education to commit themselves to the welfare of those in their care [7].…”