Professionalism Among Young Physical Therapists in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The primary objective of a physical therapist's professionalism is to enhance their understanding and expertise within their field, allowing them to practice independently and fulfill their responsibility as a competent professional, hence be accountable to society. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines professionalism as encompassing seven fundamental elements: Respect, Compassion, Integrity, Altruism, Accountability, Excellence, and social responsibility. The present study aims to assess the level of professionalism exhibited by young physical therapists in Pakistan based on the core values established by APTA. Methods: 100 physiotherapists, with no more than 1 year of experience after completing their graduation, and currently employed in a clinical setting, were selected for inclusion in the study, whereas those with a postgraduate degree or those working in academic or other non-clinical settings were excluded. The research employed a quantitative cross-sectional design, and data was collected using APTA's core-values "self-assessment" tool. Results: According to results 37(45.1%) female and 4(22.2%) male, total 41 physical therapists said that they always respond to the patients/clients’ needs and goals. It was found that 34(41.5%) of them reported of always trying to gain knowledge and seeking improvement in quality of care of the patient. Conclusions: it was concluded that majority of the physical therapists are fulfilling their duties with great care and responsibility. They care about the patients’ needs and concerns and that professionalism is the key element in the field of physical therapy.