Sexual Professional Boundaries: Physiotherapy Students' Experiences and Opinions (Research Report) (Survey‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Sexual harassment in healthcare settings has been reported to occur at a high rate in the form of inappropriate patient sexual behaviour (IPSB) towards healthcare professionals (McComas et al 1993). Inappropriate patient sexual behaviour has been defined as "a verbal or physical act of an explicit or perceived sexual nature which is unacceptable within the social context in which it is carried out" (Johnson et al 2006). These acts can vary from forced physical advances to innuendos and sexist remarks (McComas et 1993). Specific to the physiotherapy profession, the close physical proximity, partial disrobing of patients and interpersonal relationships established over a course of treatment places physiotherapists at risk of experiencing IPSB.