Awareness and perceptions of virtual reality in physiotherapy: a cross-sectional study among students and clinicians in Palestine

TL;DR

This study explores how aware and positive students and clinicians in Palestine are about using virtual reality in physiotherapy, finding moderate awareness but limited experience and support.

Contribution

The study provides insights into VR/AR awareness and perceptions in Palestinian physiotherapy education and practice, highlighting the need for training and curricular integration.

Findings

Clinicians showed higher VR/AR awareness and workshop participation compared to students.

High cost was the most cited disadvantage, while neurological and musculoskeletal applications were seen as most suitable.

Most participants supported specialized educational programs to enhance VR use in physiotherapy.

Abstract

Virtual reality(VR) and augmented reality(AR) are increasingly used in physiotherapy to improve patient engagement and recovery outcomes. However, their adoption in Palestine remains limited. Understanding students’ and clinicians’ awareness and impressions is critical for planning future VR incorporation into physiotherapy education and practice.

To explore and compare the awareness and perceptions of VR/AR technologies in physiotherapy among final-year physiotherapy students and practicing clinicians in Palestine.

This cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2024 to May 2025 involved 500 participants recruited via convenience sampling from accredited universities and rehabilitation centers throughout Palestine. A well-structured, self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess participants’ knowledge, clinical familiarity, training needs, and future perspectives regarding VR in physiotherapy among final-year students and clinicians. A pilot studywereth 30 participants was conducted to determine the questionnaire’s content validity and reliability, demonstrating a good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.80.

Most participants were female (70.6%) and aged 18–30 years (93.6%), with 70% final-year physiotherapy students and 30% clinicians. Clinicians reported higher VR/AR awareness (62.3% vs. 52.6%, p = 0.017) and greater participation in related workshops (p < 0.05). Both groups identified motion tracking as defining rehabilitation technology. High cost was the most cited disadvantage, while neurological and musculoskeletal applications were viewed as most suitable. Although 51.2% were neutral on ethical concerns, over half believed current training was inadequate, and most preferred combining VR with traditional methods (89%). Overall, 91.8% supported specialized educational programs to enhance clinical application, engagement, and progress tracking.

The findings demonstrate moderate VR/AR awareness among Palestinian physiotherapists, but their limited hands-on experience and institutional support hinder widespread adoption. Clinicians are more familiar than students, indicating the need for earlier curricular exposure.