Moral values in the work of a physiotherapist

Abstract

Introduction. The goal of the study was to analyze the attitudes towards moral values adopted by Polish physiotherapists. Eight basic moral values were enumerated, namely: professionalism, care, fairness, dignity, autonomy, responsibility, trust and professional integrity. The chosen values were analyzed taking into account the gender, age, education, work experience, workplace and the knowledge of moral rules included in the Code of Professional Ethics of the Physiotherapist of the Republic of Poland and/or in the Rules of Professional Ethics of Physiotherapists (the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists).Methods. The study embraced 199 professionally active physiotherapists, with 5 surveys not filled in correctly, which left 194.Results. Variables such as gender (p < 0.001), workplace (p < 0.016) differentiate the respondents significantly in the context of the studied values. Additionally, physiotherapists with longer working experience declare attitudes more closely based on moral values than physiotherapists with shorter working experience (p = 0,021). With regard to the adopted attitudes towards values, vital differences between men and women can be observed. Women choose fairness (p < 0,001) whereas men choose the ethics of care (p = 0,619). Physiotherapists employed by nonpublic centres are more oriented towards autonomous decisions than physiotherapists employed by publicly financed centres (p = 0,048).Conclusions. Numerous factors have been observed differentiating the attitudes of the respondents towards moral values. The differences may evidence a lack of uniform professional culture which might in turn translate into limited respect on the part of society. The variables differentiating the group are modal, thanks to which a change in the moral attitudes of Polish physiotherapists is possible.

The Ethical Code of Conduct for Physiotherapists—An Axiological Analysis

“…Their professional experience should be gained through the application of the current scientific knowledge and practice that is accepted in the physiotherapist milieu. All those activities should reinforce the integrity of physiotherapy among other medical professions in such a way that competence conflicts can be avoided and the distinctiveness and independence of physiotherapy as a field of knowledge can be stressed [3]. Realising the professional ideals, a physiotherapist can not only act therapeutically but also be an educator on healthy lifestyle, carry out research or teach, or run a business.…”

“…In being held responsible, there does not need to be such a direct link between the action and its consequences, because in this case the assessment of the action or its consequences is based on the gathered evidence. Therefore, if physiotherapists in their actions focus on the merits of the case and scrupulously document these actions, and then archive the documents properly, then even in a problematic situation they can justify their reasons [3,20,21].…”

“…Being directed in providing physiotherapeutic services by criteria from outside the field of physiotherapy is not only unfair, but also irresponsible, as both values (fairness and responsibility) complement each other. A fair person must be responsible at the same time, and a responsible person must be fair as well [3,21,22]. Therefore, caring and responsible performance of physiotherapeutic services should be in accordance with the rule of fairness that rationalises and objectifies relations between a physiotherapist and a patient/client, co-workers or society.…”

“…A special responsibility rests, therefore, on physiotherapists belonging to multidisciplinary teams. Working in such teams, they care not only for the good of a patient/client, but also to preserve the integrity of their own profession so as to avoid a competence-related chaos in their relations with other members of the team, representing many different professions, also not medical, such as a psychologist, a lawyer or an occupational therapist [3].…”

“…Despite those legal regulations, words such as a masseur are still used to describe physiotherapists in social awareness. Obviously from the perspective of the current law such names are incorrect and reflect a low level of knowledge on the job in society [3,4].…”