Developing a measurement tool for assessing physiotherapy students' self-efficacy: a pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine if self-efficacy can be correlated with prior academic achievement and whether self-efficacy can be an outcome measure of education. A self-efficacy instrument was developed and administered to physiotherapy students following completion of their pre-clinical theory experience. The questionnaire results completed by students regarding their self-efficacy were compared with their pre-clinical theory performance prior to clinical placement. Sixteen third-year physiotherapy students completed and returned the self-efficacy questionnaire. Correlation of the self-efficacy questionnaire results with the students' pre-clinical grade was undertaken with a statistical correlation of 0.55 found between pre-clinical grade and students' total self-efficacy score. This indicates that self-efficacy measurement is a possible outcome for educational interventions.