Development and reliability of a clinical competence evaluation scale in physical therapy

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to develop a Clinical Competence Evaluation Scale in Physical Therapy (CEPT). This scale was designed to be used in continuing education for physical therapists. We examined the reliability of the scale. [Method] Based on our previous qualitative study, a CEPT was developed with 53 items. The 90 participants in this study included novice physical therapists with less than 3 years' experience (n=30), as well as principal (n=30) and sub-tutors (n=30) who were mentoring the less experienced participants. Using CEPT, the novice physical therapists performed a self-evaluation, and the principal and sub-tutors evaluated the novice physical therapists. [Results] The score of the CEPT of the novice physical therapists was lower than those of the principal and sub-tutors. The intra-rater reliabilities of each item and total scores of the novice physical therapists and principal tutors ranged from moderate to high. Inter-rater reliability between the principal and the sub-tutors was low. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the intra-rater reliabilities of CEPT range from moderate to high. © 2012, The Society of Physical Therapy Science. All rights reserved.