The role of self-efficacy in rehabilitation sciences clinical doctoral education

Rubini Pasupathy

Abstract

In the past, the primary job responsibilities of Rehabilitation Sciences professionals included evaluating and treating patients, however, clinicians today need to be able to understand, apply and generate research, manage and administer clinics, and provide education to future professionals (1,2). Accordingly, the entry level educational requirements for Rehabilitation Sciences professionals have extended from undergraduate to doctoral degrees (2). The current benchmark of clinical practice is evidence-based practice, and we need to ensure that Rehabilitation Sciences professionals are trained to be effective evidence-based practitioners (2,3). Clinical outcomes are highly reliant on clinicians’ understanding, integration and production of new research evidence related to clinical knowledge and skills (2).