Ethical issues identified by physical therapy students during clinical placements

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the ethical issues encountered by physical therapy students during a clinical placement. Fifty-six students in the third unit (semester) of an undergraduate physical therapy program wrote weekly entries in a journal during a 6-week clinical placement. For each entry, students were to describe an event, its value and their reaction to it, and to discuss new learning that occurred and how they would respond in the future. At the end of the clinical placement, three faculty members evaluated the journals qualitatively to determine the extent to which ethical issues were a component of student learning. Ethical issues were mentioned by 53 of the 56 students. Three major themes were identified: respect for the uniqueness of individuals (37 students), professionalism—responsibility and behavior as a member of the profession (25 students), and professional collegiality – interaction with and respect for health professionals (25 students). Minor themes included: allocation of resources; advocacy for client, society and/or health policy; and informed consent. Students frequently reported ethical issues in the clinical setting. These issues were predominantly related to the students' relationships with clients and co-workers and the exploration of their roles as emerging physical therapists.