Establishing National Consensus on the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's Core Professional Values Through e-Delphi Surveys and Member Consultation

Purpose: Core professional values (CPVs) guide both physiotherapist behaviours and the Association's activities. The purpose of this study was to confirm or modify a list of 10 CPVs and their associated behaviours (ABs) through a series of online surveys and member consultation. Method: Members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) rated whether or not 10 CPVs and their ABs were “relevant and essential” through three rounds of electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) surveys. Consensus was defined a priori as 80% agreement. Demographic data and respondents’ feedback were collected. Revisions to the CPVs and ABs in subsequent rounds were guided by member ratings and feedback. Additional input was sought through meetings with members, professional leaders and content experts. Results: Over 1,000 members participated. There were 548, 446, and 295 surveys completed for rounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Ten CPVs (accountability, advocacy, altruism, client centredness, compassion, equity, excellence, integrity, respect, social responsibility) were confirmed. The number of ABs increased from 29 in the first round to 35 in the final version. Conclusions: Ten CPVs with ABs have been confirmed by members of the CPA. These values can inform the professional activities of clinicians, the CPA, and others. Future work includes the identification of ABs that relate to non-clinical activities and exploring the relationship between demographic factors and the integration of CPVs into practice.