Question
What is professionalism in the context of a student physiotherapist ?
Answer
Professionalism in the context of a student physiotherapist involves the development of core competencies and values essential for effective practice in the healthcare field. It encompasses a range of attributes including ethical behaviour, communication skills, and the ability to reflect on personal and professional growth.
Key Aspects of Professionalism for Student Physiotherapists
Core Competencies and Values: Professionalism is a fundamental component of physiotherapy education, focusing on core values such as responsibility, respect, and ethical behaviour (Sibi, 2024; Carvalho et al., 2021). Students are expected to develop these values to ensure quality care and effective patient interactions.
Teaching and Curriculum: Professionalism is taught through various methods, though traditional lectures are more common than interactive methods like simulations and role plays, which could enhance learning (BHSc, Whitehouse and BEd, 2020). Curricula often emphasize communication skills but may underrepresent areas like change management (BHSc, Whitehouse and BEd, 2020).
Professional Identity Formation: The formation of a professional identity is a multidimensional process involving self-awareness, skills development, and understanding of the curriculum and program context (Rappazzo, Seagrave and Gough, 2021). This identity is shaped by both personal and societal dimensions (Parsa et al., 2021).
Reflection and Personal Growth: Reflection is crucial for students to internalize the concept of professionalism. Activities such as video reflections and discussions help students explore and articulate their understanding of professional issues (Stickley, 2024).
Assessment and Evaluation: Tools like the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP) evaluate both clinical and professional competencies, ensuring students meet the required standards across different contexts and over time (Reubenson, Ng and Gucciardi, 2020).
Ethics and Attitudes: Understanding and valuing professional ethics is critical. Students’ attitudes towards ethics can vary by academic year, with those in years where ethics is explicitly taught showing more favorable attitudes (Marqués-Sulé et al., 2021).
Conclusion
Professionalism for student physiotherapists is a complex, multi-faceted concept that involves the integration of core values, ethical behaviour, and reflective practice. Effective teaching methods and comprehensive curricula are essential to foster these attributes, ensuring students are well-prepared for professional practice.
References
BHSc, P., Whitehouse, L., & BEd, M., 2020. Teaching professionalism: some features in Canadian physiotherapy programs.. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 36, pp. 615-627. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2018.1491080
Rappazzo, L., Seagrave, S., & Gough, S., 2021. Forming and shaping of professional identity within pre-registration physiotherapy curricular: A scoping review.. Nurse education today, 109, pp. 105250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105250
Stickley, L., 2024. A Brief but Spectacular Take: Reflecting on Professionalism by Student Physical Therapists.. Journal, physical therapy education. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTE.0000000000000363
Reubenson, A., Ng, L., & Gucciardi, D., 2020. The Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice tool provides informative assessments of clinical and professional dimensions of student performance in undergraduate placements: a longitudinal validity and reliability study.. Journal of physiotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2020.03.009
Sibi, A., 2024. Professional Values and Perception of Knowledge regarding Professional Ethics in Physiotherapy Students in Navi Mumbai: An Observational Study. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). https://doi.org/10.21275/sr24214201754
Parsa, B., Murphy, S., Drynan, D., & Jarus, T., 2021. Reflection on Professionalism: Retrospective Review of Health Professional Student Reflections. **, 9, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.18552/IJPBLHSC.V9I1.669
Marqués-Sulé, E., Arnal-Gómez, A., Cortés-Amador, S., De La Torre, M., Hernandez, D., & Aguilar-Rodríguez, M., 2021. Attitudes towards learning professional ethics in undergraduate physiotherapy students: A STROBE compliant cross-sectional study.. Nurse education today, 98, pp. 104771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104771
Carvalho, M., Mateus, S., Pinto, F., Ramos, I., Vicente, S., & Pereira, Â., 2021. Translation of professionalism in physical therapy questionnaire for Portuguese of Portugal: Core values. Annals of Medicine, 53, pp. S158 – S158. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2021.1896840
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2014). ‘What is professionalism?’. Accessed 19.09.2016 – available online.
