Rehman SS1, Ahmad S1
1Riphah International University, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
Background: Physical therapy (PT) profession emerged in Pakistan in the current decade and practice of Professionalism core values are desired to be reflected in PT professionals. The PT entry level degree education was upgraded to doctor of physical therapy, therefore this study was designed produce evidence on the level of current practice of Professionalism core values among the recent PT gradate in Pakistan.
Purpose: I. To determine level professionalism core values among young physical therapists in Pakistan by self-assessment through APTA tool for professionalism core values.
Methods: I. This cross sectional survey was conducted at Riphah college f rehabilitation sciences, Riphah International University Islamabad from April 01 to May 31, 2018. The inclusion criteria were DPT graduates with one year experience and enrolled in masters in PT program. APTA professionalism core values questionnaire was adopted after written permission. It covers the self assessment of 7 core values including accountability, Altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility. The questionnaire was manually circulated among 100 recently PT graduates after consent and recollected. Data was analysed and results presented in percentages against all 7 core values.
Results: I. Mean age of the respondents was 24.9±1.3 years. Majority of the respondents were females (82%) while males represented 18% of the total sample. On average, highest scores were found in Compassion/Caring (4.03±0.60) and Professional Duty (4.00±0.68) core values. Lowest scores were evident in Altruism (3.67±0.69) and Social Responsibility (3.59±0.65). Average score of other core values was also less than 4. Regarding accountability, the group consistently scored 4 or 5 except for item 9. Similarly, consistent score of 4 or above was recorded in altruism, excellence, integrity, and social responsibility except for items 4, 1, 4, 7 respectively. Majority of the respondents scored 4 and above on all items of compassion/caring and social responsibility domains. Overall average score of all core values was found to be 3.83±0.49.
Conclusion(s): I. Compassion/caring and professional duty were found to be the most adhered core values while altruism and social responsibility were the most deficient traits observed. Programs should be designed with enhanced emphasis on inculcating altruism and societal responsibilities in physical therapy students.
Implications: I. this study highlighted the professionalism core values among recent physical therapy graduates in Pakistan, which will help the educational institutes for policy making to ensure the professionalism core values in their graduates. It will also improve physical therapy patient care if the gap highlighted by this study in professionalism core values by the universities producing gradates in physical therapy in Pakistan.
Keywords: professionalism, core values, Physical Therapists
Funding acknowledgements: Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Purpose: I. To determine level professionalism core values among young physical therapists in Pakistan by self-assessment through APTA tool for professionalism core values.
Methods: I. This cross sectional survey was conducted at Riphah college f rehabilitation sciences, Riphah International University Islamabad from April 01 to May 31, 2018. The inclusion criteria were DPT graduates with one year experience and enrolled in masters in PT program. APTA professionalism core values questionnaire was adopted after written permission. It covers the self assessment of 7 core values including accountability, Altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility. The questionnaire was manually circulated among 100 recently PT graduates after consent and recollected. Data was analysed and results presented in percentages against all 7 core values.
Results: I. Mean age of the respondents was 24.9±1.3 years. Majority of the respondents were females (82%) while males represented 18% of the total sample. On average, highest scores were found in Compassion/Caring (4.03±0.60) and Professional Duty (4.00±0.68) core values. Lowest scores were evident in Altruism (3.67±0.69) and Social Responsibility (3.59±0.65). Average score of other core values was also less than 4. Regarding accountability, the group consistently scored 4 or 5 except for item 9. Similarly, consistent score of 4 or above was recorded in altruism, excellence, integrity, and social responsibility except for items 4, 1, 4, 7 respectively. Majority of the respondents scored 4 and above on all items of compassion/caring and social responsibility domains. Overall average score of all core values was found to be 3.83±0.49.
Conclusion(s): I. Compassion/caring and professional duty were found to be the most adhered core values while altruism and social responsibility were the most deficient traits observed. Programs should be designed with enhanced emphasis on inculcating altruism and societal responsibilities in physical therapy students.
Implications: I. this study highlighted the professionalism core values among recent physical therapy graduates in Pakistan, which will help the educational institutes for policy making to ensure the professionalism core values in their graduates. It will also improve physical therapy patient care if the gap highlighted by this study in professionalism core values by the universities producing gradates in physical therapy in Pakistan.
Keywords: professionalism, core values, Physical Therapists
Funding acknowledgements: Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Topic: Professional issues
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Riphah International UNiversity
Ethics committee: Research Ethical Committee, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Ethics number: RIPHAH/RCRS/REC/Letter-00372
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
