It's Complicated: A Mixed Methods Study of the Professional Identity of Massage Therapists in Ontario
| Autor: | Baskwill, Amanda |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Druh dokumentu: | Diplomová práce |
| Popis: | Background Professional identity is a way in which individuals assign meaning to themselves and their contributions to society. The body of literature from across healthcare professions suggests that the sense of belonging that comes with a strong professional identity influences practitioners to act professionally and adhere to regulatory standards. Although all members of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) call themselves (registered) massage therapists, there is disagreement about what they value and believe. Research that describes the professional identity of massage therapists in their own words may illuminate commonalities and form a shared model of identity. Methods An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was chosen to investigate the professional identity of massage therapists in Ontario. Qualitative description and quantitative survey methodologies were used, followed by a mixed analysis of both data sets. Results In the resulting description of professional identity, massage therapists believe they are healthcare providers. They value competence and currency with profession-specific knowledge and skill. They believe in the importance of communication to establish trust, create comfort, and empower patients. They are passionate about providing safe, effective, and individualized care. This study also confirmed that variation in professional identity exists within the profession that impacts values and beliefs. Conclusions This description is the first of its kind and will inform future research. Massage Therapy stakeholders can use this description to engage in discussions regarding whether these features adequately represent massage therapists’ beliefs and values. Variation in professional identity occurred due to differences in gender, practice setting, length in practice, and additional education, roles within the profession, and designation as healthcare professional. These variations present opportunities for future research to further the understanding of professional identity. Much remains to be discovered in this field of study, due to the complexity of professional identity. Thesis Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Professional identity is a way in which individuals assign meaning to themselves and their contribution to society. Massage Therapy has been described as a profession divided and in need of articulating its identity. This research study was undertaken to describe massage therapists’ identity in Ontario. The research design consists of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, followed by a mixed analysis of both data sets. The resulting description is the first of its kind in the literature. Massage therapists are passionate about their profession, and value competence, the therapeutic relationship, individualized care, and patient empowerment. They desire to be recognized for their role within the healthcare system. While several areas of unity were identified, variation that impacts massage therapists’ values and beliefs was also discovered. These variations present opportunities for future research to further the understanding of professional identity. Much remains to be discovered in this field of study, due to the complexity of professional identity. |
| Databáze: | Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations |
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