Quality standards in physiotherapy and rehabilitation doctoral education: An in-depth analysis of the transformations by the ORPHEUS label

This study explores the transformation driven by ORPHEUS standards in physiotherapy and rehabilitation doctoral programmes, focusing on faculty members’ understanding, experiences, and perceptions. Adopting a narrative inquiry approach, data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from faculty members across nine doctoral programmes at Hacettepe University’s Graduate School of Health Sciences. The results, analysed using inductive content analysis, show that ORPHEUS standards improve programme quality by fostering a research-oriented environment, enhancing student competencies, and systematising thesis processes and supervision. However, participants reported increased bureaucracy, time constraints, and workload as major stressors negatively affecting both faculty and students. Furthermore, the relevance and applicability of these standards appear limited for students not pursuing academic careers. Despite these challenges, ORPHEUS serves as a critical framework for sustaining quality in doctoral education. Integrating structural, administrative, and cultural components, while addressing faculty and students’ expectations and needs, could substantially improve the programmes’ effectiveness and efficiency.