Nigerian physiotherapists’ knowledge and attributes of professionalism

Abstract

Background: It has been reported in the extant literature that the attributes of professionalism vary widely with gender, age, the level of education, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds and between professions. This study evaluated Nigerian physiotherapists’ knowledge and attributes of professionalism and also examined the influence of demographic variables on their professionalism. Methods: One hundred and forty-nine physiotherapists recruited from four randomly selected University Teaching Hospitals completed a Professionalism Inventory that assesses demographic variables, knowledge of professionalism and attributes of professionalism – clinical competence, a spirit of inquiry, accountability, autonomy, advocacy, innovation and visionary, collegiality and collaboration, and ethics/value. Results: The physiotherapists’ average knowledge of professionalism score was 62%, and the average attributes of professionalism score were 63/80 (79%). The physiotherapists who are married, older than 40 years, and with a doctorate, with 16–20 years of work experience, and employed in the neurology practice setting demonstrated significantly (p < 0.01) higher knowledge of professionalism than their respective counterparts. Similarly, married physiotherapists and those with a doctorate, employed in the orthopedic/sports practice setting embodied higher attributes of professionalism than their counterparts. Conclusions: The poor knowledge of professionalism reported for the physiotherapists in this study has implications for curricula and licensure reforms in Nigeria.

Keywords:

• professionalism
• knowledge of professionalism
• attributes of professionalism
• fundamental elements of professionalism
• core values of professionalism
• self assessment

Public Interest Statement

Since physiotherapy was imported into Nigeria in 1947, the profession has gradually evolved from an occupation into a semi-professional status. Physiotherapists in Nigeria are now keenly aware that in-depth knowledge of professionalism and exemplary professional conduct is expected of them. Study of the core values of professionalism is important because it can impact the quality of healthcare delivery. This preliminary survey was implemented to determine the knowledge and core values of professionalism among Nigerian physiotherapists. Overall, the 149 physiotherapists who participated in the study demonstrated poor knowledge of professionalism. Thus, it is imperative that professionalism contents be included in the entry-level physiotherapy curriculum and the need to offer continuing education workshops on professionalism for practicing physiotherapists. The data collected would serve as a representative for the Nigerian physiotherapists and can be used as a baseline to gauge any shift in the knowledge and core values of professionalism among the physiotherapists in this study.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the physiotherapists who assisted with data collection in this study – Mr Ojetola Kayode, Mrs Olabisi Akinwande, Mr John Omole, and Mr Emmanuel Fashote. We are also indebted to Drs Taofeek Awotidebe and Olumide Dada for administering the professionalism inventory at the different hospitals. They all approved for their names to be mentioned in this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joseph A. Balogun

Two of the authors of this paper (Joseph and Adetutu) were born in Nigeria but they are now naturalized citizen of the United States of America. Chidozie and Udoka are Nigerian citizens.

The authors have collaborated on several research projects relating to the advancement of knowledge on professionalism. Specifically, they have developed a Professionalism Inventory to assess physiotherapists' knowledge and attributes of professionalism and established the readability, stability and internal consistency of the psychometric instrument. In addition, they have investigated the effects of a customised professionalism educational intervention on physiotherapists’ knowledge and attributes of professionalism.

Joseph A. Balogun is a distinguished university professor in the College of Health Sciences at Chicago State University.

Chidozie Mbada

Chidozie Mbada is a senior lecturer in the Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Adetutu O. Balogun

Adetutu O. Balogun is an adjunct professor of occupational therapy at Brown Mackie College, Indiana.

Udoka Okafor

Udoka Okafor is a senior lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.