| A Survey of Physical Therapists' Perceptions of Workplace Ethics in the State of Georgia. Roberto Cantu, 2014: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. ERIC Descriptors: Physical Therapy, Ethics, Conflict of Interest, Ethical Instruction, Job Satisfaction.;This study examined how physical therapists in Georgia perceive ethical climates in their workplaces, based on the use of the Ethics Environment Questionnaire (EEQ), and how these perceptions may be different based on the type of workplace, financial status of their workplaces, their respective positions within their organizations, their age, gender, and years in the profession.;Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 1200 physical therapists in Georgia; 340 surveys were completed and returned. The results suggested that, overall, physical therapists in Georgia are satisfied with the ethical environments of their workplaces. The average score was 3.8, higher than the 3.5 cutoff score that indicates an ethical environment. The only sub-group that scored below 3.5 on the EEQ were those who worked in skilled nursing/assisted living facilities (M = 3.35, SD = .67). There was a statistically significant difference in scores between therapists working in for-profit settings (M = 3.75, SD = .55) and therapists working in not-for-profit settings (M = 3.88, SD = .45; t (335) = -2.21, p = .027). Clinicians had the lowest perceptions of ethical climate (3.73), executives/owners the highest (4.29), with middle managers scoring in between the two groups. There were strong negative correlations between the perception of an ethical environment with burnout and intent to leave the place of employment (rs = -.66, p < .01; rs = -.524, p < .01).;Increased governmental/insurance regulation, increased paperwork, decreased reimbursement, and productivity issues were areas of most concern to therapists. Greater communication and dialogue between clinicians and managers was the dominant theme in the recommended solutions to these concerns. |
