Physiotherapists’ perspectives on professional practice in comparison to occupational therapists’

Abstract

A survey was conducted to investigate attitudes towards professional practice of physio/ occupational therapists. Participants were from a sample of 1,017 physiotherapists and 1,006 occupational therapists. The instrument consisted of 22 statements and various demographic variables. The final response rate was 57.7% for physiotherapists and 50.3% for occupational therapists. The respondents ranged in age from 23 to 72 years for the physiotherapists and from 22 to 65 years for the occupational therapists. The statements were organised into six dependent variables. The majority of respondents generally supported a humanistic approach to care with less concern shown for the socio-psychological problems of the client. Gender differences in opinion on professional practice were small, but women generally favoured a more holistic view of treatment. The physiotherapists placed more emphasis on the clientís personal responsibility, while occupational therapists endorsed a more holistic view of treatment and promotion of the clientís individual resources and coping skills, although professional differences were negligible. Occupational therapists working in non-medical institutions placed more emphasis on the client-therapist relationship, while physiotherapists promoted the coping skills of their clients. In conclusion, the view of regarding therapy as a caring profession was generally prevalent amongst the therapists.