Development and validation of the Traineeship Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ) from the physiotherapy student’s perception

Clinical traineeships represent a core component of undergraduate physiotherapy education, contributing substantially to the development of professional competencies. Despite their central role, psychometrically validated instruments specifically designed to evaluate students’ perceptions of placement quality remain limited. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the measurement properties of the Traineeship Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ). A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey administered to undergraduate physiotherapy students from six Italian universities. The TEQ was developed through a structured content validation process involving expert review and cognitive interviews with students. Structural validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct validity, and feasibility (including floor and ceiling effects) were evaluated. A total of 436 students participated. EFA supported a predominantly unidimensional structure, justifying computation of the TEQ total score. The instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.932) and strong test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.916). Construct validity was confirmed through strong correlations with a validated comparator instrument assessing clinical supervisor competencies (r = 0.874, p < 0.001). Floor effects were negligible, whereas ceiling effects were substantial, particularly at the subdomain level. Completion time was under ten minutes. The TEQ demonstrated satisfactory structural validity, excellent reliability, and robust construct validity. Its brevity and feasibility support its use as a practical instrument for evaluating clinical placement quality in undergraduate physiotherapy education. Further research should explore cross-cultural validity and responsiveness.