Knowledge, Practices, and Acceptance of Physiotherapists About the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Clinical Practice.

Knowledge, Practices, and Acceptance of Physiotherapists About the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Clinical Practice: An International Online Survey.

Objective: The aim of this online cross-sectional survey is to investigate the knowledge, practices, and acceptance of use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in clinical practice in physiotherapists.

Methods: Physiotherapists from different French-speaking and Dutch-speaking countries will be recruited using non-probability sampling. The survey will be available online on LimeSurvey software for a period of 4 months. The questionnaire will include questions about: general data; knowledge about immersive VR; immersive VR usage in clinical practice; intention to use immersive VR; attitudes towards immersive VR; perceived usefulness of immersive VR; perceived ease of use of immersive VR; social influence on using immersive VR.

Discussion: This study will be the first to investigate the knowledge, practices, and acceptance of use of immersive VR in clinical practice in physiotherapists from different countries around the world. This investigation could lead to a better understanding of the current (non-)implementation of this means of rehabilitation in physiotherapy, and help develop ways to better implement it in physiotherapists' clinical practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Immersive Virtual Reality

Detailed Description

Background: For several years now, the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) has been studied as an intervention in physiotherapy. This new means of rehabilitation, which can be used not only in hospitals but also at home and in private practice, is promising and appears to be as effective as established treatments. Although the number of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of immersive VR in physiotherapy is growing, its implementation in clinical practice remains relatively low. At present, we do not know the reasons for the lack of use of immersive VR in clinical practice among physiotherapists. Various hypotheses could be envisaged, such as a lack of knowledge or negative attitudes towards it. Conversely, we don't know the exact reasons why some physiotherapists decided to use immersive VR in their clinical routine.

Objective: The aim of this online cross-sectional survey is to investigate the knowledge, practices, and acceptance of use of immersive VR in clinical practice in physiotherapists.

Methods: Physiotherapists from different French-speaking and Dutch-speaking countries will be recruited using non-probability sampling. The survey will be available online on LimeSurvey software for a period of 4 months. The questionnaire will include questions about: general data; knowledge about immersive VR; immersive VR usage in clinical practice; intention to use immersive VR; attitudes towards immersive VR; perceived usefulness of immersive VR; perceived ease of use of immersive VR; social influence on using immersive VR.

Discussion: This study will be the first to investigate the knowledge, practices, and acceptance of use of immersive VR in clinical practice in physiotherapists from different countries around the world. This investigation could lead to a better understanding of the current (non-)implementation of this means of rehabilitation in physiotherapy, and help develop ways to better implement it in physiotherapists' clinical practice.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 155

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Brussels, Belgium, 1200
    • Université Catholique de Louvain

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

French-speaking or Dutch-speaking graduates in physiotherapy currently practicing as physiotherapists.

Description

Eligibility Criteria:

• To have a degree in physiotherapy
• Currently practicing as a physiotherapist
• To speak French or Dutch

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Practicing physiotherapists; French- or Dutch-speaking physiotherapists currently practicing their profession

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge about immersive virtual reality	General knowledge about immersive virtual reality will be assessed using closed questions.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Use of immersive virtual reality (practice)	Use of immersive virtual reality will be assessed using closed questions (e.g., duration and frequency of use, pathologies treated, age of patients treated, system used, type of rehabilitation,...).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Intention to use immersive virtual reality	Intention to use immersive virtual reality will be assessed using closed questions (e.g., research performed by oneself, readiness to invest,...).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Attitudes towards immersive virtual reality	Attitudes towards immersive virtual reality will be assessed using Likert-scale questions (e.g., desire to find out more, perceived suitability for different people,...).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Perceived usefulness of immersive virtual reality	Perceived usefulness of immersive virtual reality will be assessed using Likert-scale questions (e.g., general usefulness in physiotherapy, usefulness for different clinical outcomes, usefulness as a means of rehabilitation,...).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Perceived ease of use of immersive virtual reality	Perceived ease of use of immersive virtual reality will be assessed using Likert-scale questions (ease of use for oneself, patients, and other physiotherapists).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Social influence on using immersive virtual reality	Social influence on using immersive virtual reality will be assessed using Likert-scale questions (influence of people inside and outside the workplace on using immersive virtual reality in clinical practice).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université Catholique de Louvain
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Laurent Pitance, PhD, Université Catholique de Louvain

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 23, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 23, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 23, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 1, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 1, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 20, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2024
• Last Verified: August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Therapy; Survey; Physiotherapy; Clinical practice
• Other Study ID Numbers: VR-PHYSIO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No