This document outlines the characteristics that distinguish a physical therapist as a professional. It discusses key aspects of professionalism including extensive education and a broad theoretical and practical knowledge base. Professionals are self-regulated through codes of ethics and have autonomy in their decision making. They are accountable to various governing bodies and for justifying their actions. Physical therapists demonstrate professional characteristics like using complex clinical reasoning, referring clients to other providers, and having authority derived from their specialized knowledge and skills. The document contrasts professions with occupations and uses models to illustrate how professions prioritize client needs over business interests through shared decision making.

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In The name of ALLAH, The most BENEFICENT and The MERCIFUL.

2. 8/12/2022 2
Dr. EHTISHAM Ul Haq

3. Outlines of the Presentation
1. The Physical Therapist as
Professional
2. Characteristics of a professional
3. Difference between occupation and
Profession
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4. 1. The Physical Therapist As
Professional
What does Professional Means ?
 Profession
 Latin origin “Profiteor”
means “To profess a belief”
 Profession (Definition)
 “as viewed in society, Occupation as profession on the basis of
distinct characteristics, development, codes of conduct and ethics or
Power”
 Professionalism (Definition)
 “Professionalism is the Internalized conceptualization of expected
professional obligations, attributes, interactions, attitudes, values, and
a role behavior in relation to the individual patients or clients”
 Professional
 “A person engaged in a specific profession having advanced and
distinct knowledge or training”
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5. DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES
 Sociological perspective
Structural Approach
Process Approach
Power Approach
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6. Sociological Approach
 Professionalism in Sociology
 Structural Approach:-
Static characteristics than an occupation
should be considered as profession
 Process Approach:-
Focuses on either the stages and
developmental periods that an
occupation to be pass through to be
recognized as profession .
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7.  POWER APPROACH:-
Profession’s ability to obtain the
political and social power to define its
work and it is the important
characteristic.
According to Ritzer these approaches can
be blended to deal up with the
professionalism.
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8. 2. Characteristics of Professionals
A. Education
B. knowledge
C. Self-Regulation of Ethical Standards
D. Autonomy
E. Accountability
F. Nature of Work and Decisions
G. Authority
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9. 2. Characteristics of Professionals
A. Education and Knowledge
 Education
 Extensive
 Skilled, Technical
 High standard for admission
 Knowledge
 Broad, Theoretical & Practical
 Generalized and Specific, Systematic
knowledge
 Unique Body of Knowledge(Professional)
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10.  “Possession of code of ethics and mechanism that
ensure members abide by the code’s principles”
 APTA adopted first code of ethics in 1935 in which
four major ethical violations identified
1. Making a diagnosis
2. Offering a prognosis
3. Advertising for patients
4. Criticizing the doctors or co-workers
2. Characteristics of Professionals
B. Self-Regulation of Ethical Standards
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11. Autonomy
 “Extent to which a profession/Individual feels freedom
and independence in his/her role”
Privileges of Autonomous practice in 2020 (APTA)
1. Direct and unrestricted access
2. Professional ability to refer to other health care providers
3. Professional ability to refer to other professionals
4. Professional ability to refer for diagnostic tests
2. Characteristics of Professionals
C. Autonomy
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12. Direct and un restricted Access
 The physical therapist has a
professional capability and ability to
provide to all individuals physical
therapy services they chose without any
restriction

13. Professional ability to refer to
other health care providers
 The PT has professional capability and
ability to refer to others in the health
care system for possible medical needs
beyond the physical therapist practice

14. Professional ability to refer to
other Professionals
 The PT has professional capability and
ability to refer to others in the health
care system for possible medical needs
beyond the physical therapist practice

15. Professional ability to refer for
diagnostic tests
 The PT has professional capability and
ability to refer for diagnostic test that
would clarify the patient situation and
enhance the provision of physical
therapy services

16. True Professionals
 High Autonomy in decision making and
high control over their work.
 Opposite to true professionals are para
professional, semi professional or non
professional .

17.  Professionals have obligations and must “account”
to the public for these”
 Emanual defined
○ “The process by which a party justifies its actions and
policies”
 Physiotherapist is accountable to
○ Professional Associations
○ Patients
○ Government
○ Lawyers and Courts
○ Employers
○ Investors
○ Hospital administration
○ Private payers (Insurance)
2. Characteristics of Professionals
D. Accountability
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18. 2. Characteristics of Professionals
D. Accountability
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19. 2. Characteristics of Professionals
E. Nature of Work and Decisions
 Important or essential to client
 Complex
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20. 2. Characteristics of Professionals
F. Authority
 Based on Internal Knowledge
 Granted by Society
 Demonstrated by power and status in
society
 Demonstrated by symbolic award
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21. Pavalko’s Continuum
 Pavalko’s Continuum
Difference between occupation and
profession

22. DIFFERENCE
OCCUPATION PROFESSION
 Theory, Intellectual
technique
 Absent
 Relevance to Social
values
 Not Relevant
 Motivation
 Self Interest
 Theory, Intellectual
technique
 Absent
 Relevance to Social
values
 Relevant
 Motivation
 Service

23. Cont…
OCCUPATION PROFESSION
 Autonomy
 Absent
 Commitment
 Short term
 Code of Ethics
 Undeveloped
 Autonomy
 Present
 Commitment
 Long term
 Code of Ethics
 Highly developed

24. Cont…
OCCUPATION PROFESSION
 Training Period
 Short
 Non Specialized
 Training Period
 Long
 Specialized

25. OZAR’S Model of
Professionalism
NO COMMERCIAL GUILD INTERACTIVE(I
DEAL)
Dominant
concern
Maximizing
Profits
Advancing the
profession as a
service to
benefit patient
Shared descion
making
Nature of PT
service
Commercial Privilege Interaction
Role of PT Sales person Expert a
representative
of the person
Partner in
decision making
Role of Patient Consumer Passive
recipient of
knowledge
Equal partner in
decision making

26. OZAR’S Model of
Professionalism
NO COMMERCIAL GUILD INTERACTIVE(I
DEAL)
PT- Patient
relationship
Competitors in
self interest
PT decision only
with low
autonomy of
client
Mutual Dialogue
with high
autonomy of
client
Selection of PT
intervention
Affordable by
the client
Needs of client
as determined
by the expert
opinion of PT
Needs
determined
through
dialogue
Relationship
with other
colleagues
Competitors Colleagues Interaction of
equals
Nature of
professional
Associations
Political action
public relation
and business
interest
Guardians of
Knowledge and
skills
Partnership of
equals in
dialogue with
community to
improve health

27. Thanks to All
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