IN CLASS WORKSHEET SELF-REGULATION (5%)

In pairs, complete the following worksheet regarding self-regulation. Make sure you properly cite your
sources using APA formatting.

Partner #1

Thu Dang

Partner #2

Natalie Rinaldi

PART 1: SELF-REGULATION AT A PROFESSION LEVEL

Describe what is meant by a self-regulating healthcare profession. What people, organizations, or

things are present in order to make massage therapy a self-regulating profession in Ontario? Describe
their role in self-regulation.

A self-regulating healthcare profession has the responsibility to protect the public. They are to
assure that the public is receiving safe practice, ethical care, and establish boundaries. The CMTO is a notfor-profit regulatory body by the provincial government to regulate Registered Massage Therapists. They
are to follow the code of conducts such as RHPA standards and The Massage Therapy Act to treat within
their scope of practice. The Scope of Practice states that the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of
the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and
joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve
pain (Massage Therapy Act, 1991) in which presents a guidelines for RMTs to depend on as selfregulating healthcare professionals. According to the Nursing Now article, regulatory bodies have the
role of maintaining and developing the nursing practice to assure that the performance leve l
expected is met. This provides a safe, competent, and ethical care that identifies what the public
anticipates (Nursing Now, 2007, p.2). The standards of nursing correlates with the standards of
massage therapy because they are both dealing with protecting the public and providing a safe
environment for them.

PART 2: SELF-REGULATION AT A PERSONAL LEVEL

Describe what is meant by self-regulation at a personal level. How does self-regulation support
massage therapists as individuals? Use examples to illustrate how this might occur. How might selfregulation contribute to quality assurance? Again, use examples to illustrate your points.

At a personal level, self-regulation involves taking responsibility to serve in the publics best
interest. This includes possessing elements of knowledge and education to apply it in everyday practice.
Being self-regulated, an individual has the ability to make their own choices within the standards of
practice and create a healthy therapeutic relationship. An example to illustrate this is being able to
maintain confidentiality and obtaining the patients trust with their personal information. Self-regulation
contributes to quality assurance in ways such as self-assessing and peer assessment. This represents an
example of contributing to quality assurance because this allows massage therapists to reflect upon their
strengths and weaknesses; including feedback to have a greater understanding and to improve
themselves.

References
Massage Therapy Act, 1991. Retrieved from http://www.elaws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_91m27_e.htm
Nursing Now. (2007, February). Understanding Self-Regulation, number 21 p.1-5.