Work

Acceptance and Use of Generative AI in Clinical Rehabilitation: An Interdisciplinary Survey of US Rehabilitation Professionals

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • The influence of peers using GenAI was associated with a sixfold adoption of GenAI in practice • Users reported utilizing GenAI to primarily support administrative tasks and not direct patient care • Nonusers described potential use for documentation, but reported far more negative concerns To examine rehabilitation professionals' current clinical use and practice patterns of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and examine differences between users and non-users. Cross-sectional mixed methods Online survey Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, clinical exercise physiologists, and athletic trainers in the United States. Not applicable Researcher-designed survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). A total of 408 professionals responded, with 264 complete surveys (64.7% completion) analyzed quantitatively and 311 valid open-ended responses analyzed qualitatively. Responses were received from all regions of the US, and were primarily occupational therapists (n=136, 51.5%) and women (n = 214, 81.1%). Most participants identified as non-users (n=154, 58.3%), while 41.6% (n=101) reported using GenAI some or most of the time. ChatGPT was the most common platform identified by all participants (n=241, 91.3%). GenAI was recognized by rehabilitation professionals as a tool to support patient care and administrative tasks. Users were significantly more likely than non-users to perceive GenAI as useful in five of seven domains (p <0.001) and easy to use in three of six domains (p<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that peer influence was the strongest predictor of use (p<0.001, OR 6.16, 95% CI 2.94 – 12.93). Perceptions of usefulness, ease of use, and the social influence of peers significantly influence rehabilitation professionals' adoption and the use of GenAI within clinical practice.

Source: Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation

DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2025.100571

Authors: Malachy J. Clancy, Erin R. Pletcher, Alison Bell, Travis Pollen, Robert Dekerlegand

Institution: Thomas Jefferson University

Language: English

Topic: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education

Subfield: Health Informatics

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500