Artificial Intelligence Readiness and Digital Health Transformation in Orthotics-Prosthetics Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study of Health Professionals' Attitudes, Competencies, and Implementation Barriers

Healthcare professionals working in the field of orthotics and prosthetics who voluntarily agree to participate will be included in the study. Based on the G*Power analysis, a minimum of 159 participants is required to achieve 95% statistical power at a 5% significance level (|ρ| = 0.277). Considering a possible sample loss of 10%, it was determined that the study should be conducted with at least 175 healthcare professionals.

For the quantitative part of the study, the Technology Acceptance Model Scale will be used to determine technology acceptance levels; the General Attitude Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale will be used to measure general attitudes toward AI; the Generative Artificial Intelligence Use and Competency Scale will be used to assess AI usage skills and AI-supported learning motivation; and the Artificial Intelligence Perception and Attitude Scale will be used to examine AI perceptions and usage tendencies.

For the qualitative part of the study, face-to-face interviews will be conducted with participants who actively use artificial intelligence in their field, using 8 semi-structured questions designed to evaluate AI awareness, its impact on clinical workflow, economic feasibility, and ethical and safety concerns. After the individual interviews, an online focus group interview will be conducted with 5 participants who use AI most intensively. The focus group will consist of 7 questions prepared to explore healthcare professionals' shared perceptions, usage experiences, professional concerns, and future suggestions regarding artificial intelligence through group interaction.