Comparative Study of Self-Efficacy and Perceived Stress Among Physiotherapy Interns in Turkey and Egypt

NCT07249580 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: E-10840098-202.3.02-3979
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This cross-sectional comparative study aims to assess and compare the self-efficacy and perceived stress levels among physiotherapy interns in Turkey and Egypt. The transition from academic study to clinical practice is a critical and often challenging stage for physiotherapy students, requiring the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in real-world clinical environments. Self-efficacy, derived from Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, refers to an individual's confidence in their ability to perform specific tasks and achieve desired outcomes. In physiotherapy education, self-efficacy influences clinical reasoning, patient assessment, treatment planning, communication, and interprofessional collaboration. Meanwhile, perceived stress reflects how individuals appraise situations as stressful or demanding, which can affect their confidence and clinical performance. The study will include 200 physiotherapy interns-100 from Turkey and 100 from Egypt-who are currently completing supervised clinical internships at accredited universities. Data will be collected using an online survey containing three parts: a demographic and educational background form, the Physiotherapy Intern Self-Efficacy Scale - Likert Version (PISE-L), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The primary objective is to compare self-efficacy levels between interns from the two countries and explore how differences in educational structures and clinical training environments relate to professional confidence and stress levels. The study also aims to identify correlations between perceived stress and self-efficacy among interns. Findings from this research are expected to provide valuable insights for improving physiotherapy education programs by highlighting factors that influence students' readiness for professional practice.

Conditions

Self-efficacy and Perceived Stress Among Physiotherapy Interns in Clinical Training

Keywords

Physiotherapy Education; Clinical Internship; Self-Efficacy; Perceived Stress; Physiotherapy Students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Self-Efficacy Level

  The level of self-efficacy among physiotherapy interns will be assessed using the Physiotherapy Intern Self-Efficacy Scale - Likert Version (PISE-L). This scale evaluates confidence across multiple domains including patient assessment, clinical reasoning, treatment planning, communication, and collaboration. The total score reflects the intern's perceived self-efficacy in clinical practice.

  At the time of survey completion (Baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Stress Level

  At the time of survey completion (Baseline)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Perceived Stress

  At the time of survey completion (Baseline)

Study Arms (2)

Physiotherapy Interns in Turkey

Physiotherapy students from accredited universities in Turkey who are currently completing supervised clinical internships, regardless of academic year. Participants will complete an online questionnaire that includes demographic information, the Physiotherapy Intern Self-Efficacy Scale - Likert Version (PISE-L), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Responses will be used to evaluate levels of self-efficacy and perceived stress and compared with Egyptian participants.

Other: Online Questionnaire

Physiotherapy Interns in Egypt

Physiotherapy students from accredited universities in Egypt who are currently engaged in supervised clinical internships, regardless of academic year. Participants will complete the same online survey consisting of demographic questions, the PISE-L, and the PSS. Data will be compared with Turkish interns to assess variations in self-efficacy and perceived stress between the two educational systems.

Other: Online Questionnaire

Interventions

Online Questionnaire OTHER

Participants will complete an online self-administered survey consisting of demographic questions, the Physiotherapy Intern Self-Efficacy Scale - Likert Version (PISE-L), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The questionnaire is used solely for data collection; no behavioral or clinical intervention is applied.

Physiotherapy Interns in Egypt; Physiotherapy Interns in Turkey

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of physiotherapy students from accredited universities in Turkey and Egypt who are currently participating in supervised clinical internships. Participants may be in different academic years, provided they are actively involved in patient care or clinical training as part of their curriculum. All participants will voluntarily complete an online questionnaire in Turkish or English that includes demographic information, the Physiotherapy Intern Self-Efficacy Scale - Likert Version (PISE-L), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

You may qualify if:

• Physiotherapy students or interns currently enrolled in accredited universities in Turkey or Egypt.
• Actively participating in a supervised clinical internship or practical training at the time of the study.
• Aged between 18 and 30 years.
• Able to read and understand the survey language (Turkish or English).
• Willing to provide informed consent and complete the online questionnaire.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who have already graduated and are no longer in an internship program.
• Participants with incomplete or invalid survey responses (more than 10% of items unanswered).
• Students who are not currently engaged in any form of clinical internship or practical training.
• Participants who withdraw consent or choose not to complete the survey.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Medipol University

Istanbul, Beykoz/İstanbul, Turkey, 34810, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• van Lankveld W, Jones A, Brunnekreef JJ, Seeger JPH, Bart Staal J. Assessing physical therapist students' self-efficacy: measurement properties of the Physiotherapist Self-Efficacy (PSE) questionnaire. BMC Med Educ. 2017 Dec 12;17(1):250. doi: 10.1186/s12909-017-1094-x.

  PMID: 29233154 BACKGROUND

• Milgate W, Copley J, Hill J. Failing professional practice placements in allied health: What do we understand about the student experience? A scoping review. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2024 Mar;29(1):301-327. doi: 10.1007/s10459-023-10243-w. Epub 2023 Jun 7.

  PMID: 37284962 BACKGROUND

• Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.

  PMID: 6668417 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Failing professional practice placements in allied health: What do we understand about the student experience? (Advances in Health Sciences Education, 2024)
• Published study describing the validation and measurement properties of the Physiotherapist Self-Efficacy (PSE) questionnaire, conceptually related to the current research on physiotherapy intern self-efficacy and perceived stress.
• elf-Efficacy with Telehealth Examination: the Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Perspective (Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy, 2023)
• Clinical stress and academic self-efficacy in undergraduate nursing students (BMC Nursing, 2025)

Study Officials

• Merve Yilmaz Menek, PhD

  Medipol University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Mosaab Hassan Aseel, PT, MSc (Cand.)

CONTACT

+905539532105; mosabassil@gmail.com

Ibrahim Magdy Elboraey, PT, MSc (Cand.)

CONTACT

+905526279731; ebrahimalboray2000@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: M.Sc. Student, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2025
• First Posted: November 25, 2025
• Study Start: November 30, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)