FAST FACT SHEET IRB#: 26-0172
Study Name: Artificial Intelligence in Physical Therapy: A National Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, Use, Readiness, and Educational Needs Among Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Health Professionals
Contact Information:
Carole A Tucker, PT, PhD, FAPTA - Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Professions UTMB | Office [409/707-1635 ] Email [[email protected]]
What is the purpose of this research study?
You are being invited to participate in a research study conducted by the APTA AI & Technology Task Force. The purpose of this study is to understand how physical therapists, physical therapist assistants (PTAs), students, and other health professionals currently use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their professional work, how comfortable and prepared they feel using these tools, and what education and support they need. The results will be used to develop APTA’s AI policy positions, design educational programs for members, and advocate for the profession in national AI regulatory and healthcare policy discussions. This is the first nationally representative survey of AI in physical therapy.
What are the Research Procedures?
If you agree to participate, you will complete a one-time online survey. The survey is made up of multiple-choice, rating-scale, and short open-ended questions about your professional background, use of AI tools, attitudes toward AI, training needs, and opinions about AI policy in physical therapy. The survey takes approximately 18–25 minutes to complete depending on your professional role. You may complete it at any time that is convenient for you, from any internet-connected device. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer and you may exit the survey at any time. There are no follow-up visits required. If you voluntarily choose to join the optional follow-up study, you may be contacted once more in 12–18 months to complete a shorter second survey (approximately 12–15 minutes). Your total time commitment across both surveys would be no more than 40 minutes.
What are the Risks and Benefits? The risks of this study are minimal. Some questions about professional topics — such as workforce concerns or professional identity — may cause mild discomfort. You may skip any question or stop at any time. Because the survey is anonymous and does not collect your name or contact details, the risk of a confidentiality breach from your survey responses is very low. Any time information is collected there is a potential risk for loss of confidentiality; every effort will be made to keep your information confidential, however this cannot be guaranteed. Benefits: You may not receive any direct personal benefit from being in this study. However, your participation will contribute to the first nationally representative study of AI in physical therapy, with direct impact on APTA policy, PT education, and patient protections nationwide. We hope the information learned will benefit physical therapists, their patients, and the broader health professions community.
Costs and Compensation: There is no cost to you for participating in this study. You will not be paid for your participation. After submitting the survey, you will see two optional links on the final completion screen. The first link goes to a separate form (on a completely different platform) where you can provide your contact information if you wish to be included in future follow-up research. The second link goes to a separate form for a prize drawing for an electronic notebook. Both forms are hosted on an independent platform with no connection to the survey, it is technically impossible to link your contact information or drawing entry to your survey responses.
How will my information be protected? This survey is completely anonymous and de-identified. We do not collect your name, email address, IP address, or any other information that could identify you within the survey itself. Your survey responses are stored on the secure, UTMB QuestionPro Survey platform accessible only to the research team. If you choose to provide contact information for follow-up research or enter the prize drawing, those forms are hosted on a completely separate, independent platform, there is no technical connection between those forms and your survey answers, making it impossible to link your identity to your responses. Results will only be reported at the group level, no individual responses will ever be published or shared. Information we learn about you in this study will be handled in a confidential manner. If we publish the results in a scientific journal or present them at a conference, we will not identify you.
Who can I contact with questions about this research study? This study has been approved by the UTMB Institutional Review Board (IRB). If you have any complaints, concerns, input or questions regarding your rights as a subject participating in this research study or you would like more information about the protection of human subjects in research, you may contact the IRB Office via email [email protected].For questions about the study, contact Carole A Tucker PT, PhD, FAPTA at the numbers and email above.
By continuing to the next page and completing this survey, you confirm that you have read the information above, that you are 18 years of age or older, and that you voluntarily agree to participate.
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