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Miller PA1, Dal Bello-Haas V1, Lauzon C2
1McMaster University, Physiotherapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Science, Hamilton, Canada, 2Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Ottawa, Canada
Background: Core values are an integral component of professionalism and are the determinants of professional behaviour. The elucidation of core professional values and their respective behaviours can facilitate the process of professional socialization among students and facilitate coherence among members of a profession. While physiotherapists in other countries have identified a national set of core values, Canadian physiotherapists have not. A multi-phase research project began with the development of a comprehensive list of 10 core values (i.e., Accountability, Advocacy, Altruism, Caring/compassion, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Patient/client-centred care, Respect, and Social responsibility) and respective behaviours identified through a scoping review and survey conducted at a national professional conference. This abstract describes the second phase of the project.
Purpose: The purpose was to gain consensus among members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) on the list of core professional values and the respective behaviours using a Delphi process.
Methods: The Delphi process was employed through two rounds of online surveys distributed by CPA to its approximately 14,500 members. Each survey was available for four weeks; the two rounds were circulated three months apart. The surveys contained demographic questions and provided a definition for each of the 10 core values. Examples of associated behaviours were presented for each value. Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which the core value and the respective behaviours were relevant and essential to members of the CPA. An a priori level of consensus of 80% was utilized. Respondents were given the option to provide written comments and suggestions about the value or behaviour. Content analysis was used to identify recommended changes or additions to the list of values, value definitions and the associated behaviours in the second survey. The first survey contained 10 values and 29 associated behaviours. The second survey contained the same 10 values and 42 behaviours.
Results: 548 members completed the first survey. All 10 values met the a priori level of agreement. The mean level of agreement for the 10 values was 93% and ranged from 81% for Altruism to 99% for Integrity. Three of the 29 behaviours in the first survey did not meet the required level of agreement (two for Altruism, one for Social responsibility). The second survey included a revised definition for Altruism, 19 new associated behaviours, 10 revised associated behaviours, and 13 unchanged associated behaviours. 446 members completed the second survey. The mean level of agreement was 95%, ranging from 85% for Altruism to 99% for Integrity and Caring/compassion. All behaviours, except a new one for Altruism, reached consensus.
Conclusion(s): Members of the CPA have validated 10 core professional values with their respective associated behaviours. While some core values align with those reported by physiotherapists in other countries, a number of unique responses have been identified.
Implications: A national set of core professional values and behaviours can inform educational curricula, guide an individual's clinical practice, and influence the profession as a whole. Moving forward, stakeholder input will be sought at an upcoming professional conference to identify appropriate knowledge translation strategies.
Keywords: Core values, Delphi process, professionalism
Funding acknowledgements: CPA has provided in-kind funds to cover costs of survey translation and for staff to contribute as a research co-investigator.
Purpose: The purpose was to gain consensus among members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) on the list of core professional values and the respective behaviours using a Delphi process.
Methods: The Delphi process was employed through two rounds of online surveys distributed by CPA to its approximately 14,500 members. Each survey was available for four weeks; the two rounds were circulated three months apart. The surveys contained demographic questions and provided a definition for each of the 10 core values. Examples of associated behaviours were presented for each value. Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which the core value and the respective behaviours were relevant and essential to members of the CPA. An a priori level of consensus of 80% was utilized. Respondents were given the option to provide written comments and suggestions about the value or behaviour. Content analysis was used to identify recommended changes or additions to the list of values, value definitions and the associated behaviours in the second survey. The first survey contained 10 values and 29 associated behaviours. The second survey contained the same 10 values and 42 behaviours.
Results: 548 members completed the first survey. All 10 values met the a priori level of agreement. The mean level of agreement for the 10 values was 93% and ranged from 81% for Altruism to 99% for Integrity. Three of the 29 behaviours in the first survey did not meet the required level of agreement (two for Altruism, one for Social responsibility). The second survey included a revised definition for Altruism, 19 new associated behaviours, 10 revised associated behaviours, and 13 unchanged associated behaviours. 446 members completed the second survey. The mean level of agreement was 95%, ranging from 85% for Altruism to 99% for Integrity and Caring/compassion. All behaviours, except a new one for Altruism, reached consensus.
Conclusion(s): Members of the CPA have validated 10 core professional values with their respective associated behaviours. While some core values align with those reported by physiotherapists in other countries, a number of unique responses have been identified.
Implications: A national set of core professional values and behaviours can inform educational curricula, guide an individual's clinical practice, and influence the profession as a whole. Moving forward, stakeholder input will be sought at an upcoming professional conference to identify appropriate knowledge translation strategies.
Keywords: Core values, Delphi process, professionalism
Funding acknowledgements: CPA has provided in-kind funds to cover costs of survey translation and for staff to contribute as a research co-investigator.
Topic: Professional issues; Professional issues
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: McMaster University
Ethics committee: Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board
Ethics number: 2018-1651
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
