Clinical Research Directory

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

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.