Citation

Madsen EE, Morville AL, Larsen AE, Hansen T. Scand. J. Occup. Ther. 2016; 23(4): 245-252.

Affiliation

a Department of Occupational Therapy , Institute of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Metropolitan University College , Copenhagen , Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/11038128.2016.1154106

PMID

26982521

Abstract

Background In Denmark patients are entitled to rehabilitation regardless of socio-economic status (SES). During this process therapists have to balance cost effectiveness with providing equal treatment. Aim To investigate whether occupational therapists and physiotherapists were influenced by the patient's SES. Material and method An experimental factorial vignette survey was used. Four different vignettes describing fictitious patient cases with different SES variables were randomly allocated to therapists working in somatic hospitals. Thereafter, the therapists judged specific clinical situations and general attitudes in relation to the patient's SES. Chi-square was used to test the statistical association between the variables.

RESULTS No statistically significant associations were found between the specific clinical situations and the patient's SES. A statistical significant association was found between general attitudes and the patient's SES. Subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant association between the therapist's gender, age, and the therapeutic judgement in relation to SES.

CONCLUSION In the specific clinical situations, Danish therapists seem to maintain their professional ethical principles, although they might face ethical dilemmas during their clinical decision-making. In order to prevent and resolve these dilemmas, they have to be made explicit. However, further research on how SES influences the health care professional's judgement is warranted.

Language: en