Systematic Review of Studies on Ethical Issues in the Field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Turkey

Öz

Ethical challenges in healthcare are not only universal but also context-dependent, reflecting cultural, institutional, and professional dynamics within each country. In Turkey, ethical issues in physiotherapy and rehabilitation have attracted increasing scholarly attention; however, the available literature remains heterogeneous and fragmented. This systematic review aims to synthesize national studies addressing ethical dimensions in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, including informed consent, patient rights, professional integrity, occupational rights, ethical awareness, and emerging ethical concerns related to education and technological transformation. A comprehensive search was conducted across six major databases, and eight studies meeting the predefined eligibility criteria were included in the review. The findings indicate that ethical awareness is generally higher among students and early-career professionals, yet substantial gaps persist in clinical practice, professional rights protection, and institutional support structures. Recurrent ethical challenges include inconsistencies in informed consent practices, limited formal ethics education, violations of professional and occupational rights, and difficulties in managing professional boundaries and emerging ethical risks associated with digitalization and artificial intelligence in health sciences education. Furthermore, the reviewed studies reveal considerable methodological diversity and a predominance of descriptive approaches, which constrain the depth of ethical analysis and limit critical engagement with complex ethical dilemmas. Overall, this review highlights that in Turkey, in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, ethical principles should be given greater priority during clinical practice; that the ethical problems faced by privately practicing physiotherapists are not addressed; that there is a need to strengthen institutional and legal frameworks that will safeguard ethical principles; and that a consistent, practice-oriented ethical discourse should be developed in the field.

Tam Metin : Semptom Health Researches - Sayı 2025 2(3) - Sayfa 10-16