The Role of Ethics in Physiotherapy: A Scoping Review Protocol

Bertoni, Gianluca; Patuzzo Manzati, Sara; Pagani, Federica; Testa, Marco; Battista, Simone

Abstract

Background and aims Ethical considerations play a crucial role in physiotherapy, influencing patient care, professional conduct, and clinical decision-making. Despite its significance, there is a limited comprehensive understanding of how ethical principles are applied in physiotherapy practice. The evolving nature of the field, alongside advancements in treatment approaches, presents new ethical challenges that require systematic investigation. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on ethical issues within physiotherapy, identify research methodologies, and highlight knowledge gaps.

Method This review will follow the methodological framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for scoping reviews and will be reported following the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted on PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Cochrane Central, and Pedro. The gray literature will be consulted. Studies involving physiotherapists and those addressing ethical issues in physiotherapy practice will be included. Data extraction will be based on a standardized form, and a narrative synthesis will categorize the ethical issues and principles.

Discussion The review will provide a broad overview of ethical issues and principles in physiotherapy. It will inform future research priorities, guide ethical training for practitioners, and support the development of policies and guidelines to improve ethical shared decision-making in physiotherapy practice.

• Working Paper Type: Preprint
• Publication Date: Oct 29, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 4, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.28.24316250