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Table 4 All Breaches by Physiotherapists (Number and %) with Examples

From: At-risk advertising by Australian chiropractors and physiotherapists

Section 5 of the 2014 AG (§5) Category

Physiotherapists with Breaches: Number & (%)

Example

(a) Create unwarranted and unrealistic expectations about service effectiveness

2 (0.53%)

Your physiotherapist will use a combination of joint mobilization, stretching, manual therapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound and structured exercise programs to get you back to 100% health.

(b) Encourage (directly or indirectly) inappropriate, indiscriminate, unnecessary or excessive use of health services;

8 (2%)

Book your Free Initial Assessment today [without terms or conditions]

(c) Mislead, either directly, or by implication, use of emphasis, comparison, contrast or omission

78 (20%)

Given the frequency and variety of misleading claims uncovered, examples are presented in table form. (Table 5: Minor Misleading Claims & Table 6: Major Misleading Claims)

(d) Use testimonials or purported testimonials

179 (47%)

I started going to ‘Suburb’ Physio last year after getting some terrible neck pain from a combination of bad sitting posture at work, and a heavy training schedule. Bob and Jane have done an amazing job at relieving my neck pain! Bob gave me a comprehensive assessment and really took the time to understand what was causing my pain. He gave me exercises to help strengthen the affected muscles and to prevent further injury.

(e) compare professions without evidence

no breaches found

 

(f). Claim or imply that a practitioner provides superior services to those provided by other registered health practitioners

51 (11%)

‘Y’ Physiotherapy is Australia’s leading physiotherapy clinic for swimmers.

(g) exaggerate recovery time;

no breaches found

 

(h) Lead Audience to Self-Diagnosis

no breaches found

 

(i) Abuse the trust of or exploit a lack of knowledge by the target audience (unconscionable conduct)

no breaches found

 

(l) Contain language that could cause undue fear or distress

no breaches found

 

(m) Contain any information or material likely to make a person believe his or her health or wellbeing may suffer from not taking or undertaking the health service

no breaches found

 

(n) misrepresent price information

no breaches found

 

(o) Unfounded Claims: a practitioner has an exclusive or unique skill or remedy, or that a product is ‘exclusive’ or contains a ‘secret ingredient’

no breaches found

 

(o)4. Claim or imply that results are always effective

8 (2%)

we will find out what the problem is and treat to fix it. We can help you, no matter what your goal is

(j, k & p) Combined: Failure to disclose risks, warn of material risks, omit warning statements

no breaches found

 

(q) provide a patient or client with an unsolicited appointment time not requested by the patient or client

no breaches

 

(r) promote tobacco products, smoking, alcohol, or any other addictive substances or products known to affect health adversely

no breaches

 

(s) be vulgar, sensational, contrary to accepted standards of propriety or likely to bring a health profession into disrepute, for example, because the advertising is sexist.

no breaches

 
  1. Examples are direct quotes from practitioner advertisements