Attitudes of consumers of physical therapy in California toward the professional image of physical therapists.

The purpose of this study was to identify attitudes of California physical therapy consumers toward the professional image of physical therapists. Attitudes toward the professional image of physicians were elicited for comparative purposes. Independent variables were selected to determine their influence on the perceived professional images. The results indicated that consumers viewed physical therapists as possessing four of the five criteria of professionalism; the exception was autonomy of judgment. No significant difference existed between the consumer views of the professional image of physical therapists and the professional image of physicians. A significant relationship existed between the variable of age and the criteria of perceived autonomy of judgment of physical therapists and physicians. Older consumers believed physical therapists and physicians possess less autonomy of judgment than younger consumers believed. The majority of physical therapy consumers perceived physical therapists and physicians as having equally high professional status.