title: Exploring the concept of leadership from the perspective of physical therapists in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the concept of leadership from the perspective of physical therapists in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative, cross-sectional nationwide study was performed using a Web-based survey distributed to all members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) with a registered e-mail address (n=6,156). Frequency distributions and percentages were obtained for all leadership characteristics, and chi-square tests were performed, with significance set at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,875 members responded, for a 30% response rate. Communication, professionalism, and credibility were rated as extremely important leadership characteristics by the majority of respondents across all three settings (workplace, health care system, and society); practising in the private sector contributed significantly to the perceived importance of business acumen (p<0.001). Overall, 79.6% of respondents self-declared as leaders; male gender, primary work facility in private practice or educational institution, and supervision of students were factors associated with self-declaration as a leader.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The top three characteristics that physical therapists perceive as important differ from those reported among other health care professions. Further research is required to understand whether the presence of multiple health care professionals in an acute-care setting facilitates leadership opportunities or whether physical therapists feel overshadowed. Future studies should also investigate whether individuals practising outside the private sector recognize the business aspects of their workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy ; Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desveaux
authors.forename: Gargi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nanavaty
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sunder
authors.forename: Allan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schleifer Taylor
authors.forename: Molly C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verrier
keywords: Canada; delivery of health care; leadership