Observational studyBMC medical ethics2021
Scarcity of resources and inequity in access are frequently reported ethical issues for physiotherapists internationally: an observational study.
Observational study in BMC medical ethics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Ethical and bioethical issues in physical therapy: A systematic scoping review.Physical therapy · 2026Article
- Physiotherapists transgressions lodged at the Health Professions Council of South Africa between 2010 and 2020.The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2024Article
- Review
- Views of physiotherapists on factors that play a role in ethical decision-making: an international online survey study.Archives of physiotherapy · 2023Article
- Experiences of physiotherapists involved in front-line management of patients with COVID-19 in Nigeria: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2022Article
- Utilization of physiotherapy services and associated factors among stroke survivors attending hospitals in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia.Archives of physiotherapyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLittle is known about the ethical situations which physiotherapists encounter internationally. This lack of knowledge impedes the ability of the profession to prepare and support physiotherapists in all world regions in their ethical practice. The purpose of the study was to answer the following research questions: What types of ethical issues are experienced by physiotherapists internationally? How frequently are ethical issues experienced by physiotherapists internationally? Can the frequency and type of ethical issue experienced by physiotherapists be predicted by sociodemographic, educational or vocational variables?
methodsAn observational study was conducted in English using an online survey from October 2018 to May 2019. Participants were 1212 physiotherapists and physiotherapy students located internationally which represented less than 1% of estimated number of physiotherapists worldwide at that time. The survey questionnaire contained 13 items requesting demographic detail and knowledge of ethical codes and decision-making, and 46 items asking what frequency participants experienced specific ethical issues in four categories: (A) Physiotherapist and patient interaction (19 items), (B) Physiotherapist and other health professionals including other physiotherapists (10 items), (C) Physiotherapists and the system (5 items) and (D) Professional and economic ethical situations (12 items).
resultsThe two most frequently experienced ethical issues were 'Scarce resources and time affecting quality of physiotherapy treatment' and 'Physiotherapy not accessible to all people in society who need it'. These items were experienced, on average, more often than monthly. Interprofessional practice also presented frequent ethical issues for participants. Ethical issues related to the context of 'Physiotherapists and the system' were most frequently experienced for all world regions. Working longer years in physiotherapy and learning about ethics in basic physiotherapy education was associated with participants reporting lower frequencies of ethical issues across all contexts.
conclusionThis study provides the first global profile of ethical issues experienced by physiotherapists. Societal and cultural systems are key influences on physiotherapists' ethical practice. Physiotherapists globally need support from their work organisations, academic institutions and professional associations, and robust ethical training, to assist them to be active moral agents in their practice.
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