Artificial intelligence in clinical occupational therapy: Current and future applications and practitioner insights
James Foster, Joanna Behm, Amy Lindner, Allison Mills, Bethany Paulding, Leyla VazquezBackground
Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) in various settings to enhance evaluation, intervention, documentation, and decision-making. Challenges such as limited training, high costs, and ethical concerns contribute to under-utilization. Understanding current use, future potential, and adoption factors is essential for advancing AI use in the field.
Objective
This study investigates OTPs’ current AI use, anticipated future applications, and correlations between AI usage, experience, and practice settings.
Method
A descriptive, quantitative survey collected data on participants’ years of practice, practice settings, AI exposure, and current and future AI use.
Results
A total of 43 OTPs (39 occupational therapists and 4 occupational therapy assistants) completed the survey, with 63% having 1–5 years of experience. Most participants worked in acute care hospitals, outpatient settings, or schools. Over 60% were familiar with AI, though only 17% had formal training. Common AI usage includes documentation software, wearables, and large language models. Future applications were expected to involve real-time feedback via wearables, intervention development, and documentation. Familiarity with AI was linked to a belief in its positive impact. Younger clinicians anticipated “weekly” AI use, while older clinicians expected “monthly” use in the future.
Conclusion
Growing AI familiarity among OTPs shows promise for advancing practice. However, limited training and generational differences highlight the need for targeted education to maximize AI integration.