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Decision Algorithm for Vital Sign Assessment in the Outpatient Physical Therapy Setting

Development of a Decision Algorithm for Vital Sign Assessment in the Outpatient Physical Therapy Setting: An e-Delphi Study

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Licensed physical therapist.
2. Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in an outpatient physical therapy setting.
3. Proficient in English (reading and writing).
4. Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Less than 5 years of outpatient physical therapy experience.
2. Inability to read or write in English.
3. Declines informed consent or does not agree to participate in all survey rounds

About the study

Brief Summary The goal of this observational study is to develop consensus-based criteria for when vital sign assessment (VSA) should be performed in outpatient physical therapy settings. The primary purpose is to identify clinical signs, symptoms, and other factors that inform decision-making for VSA to improve patient safety and guide treatment progression.

Main Questions:

1. Which clinical characteristics indicate that vital signs should be assessed during outpatient physical therapy? 2. Which clinical characteristics indicate that vital signs do not need to be assessed?

Study Design:

This study uses a three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) process to achieve expert consensus.

Comparison:

Researchers will compare responses across rounds to determine agreement and stability of criteria for inclusion in a decision algorithm.

Participants:

Licensed physical therapists with ≥5 years of clinical experience in outpatient settings.

Procedures:

Participants will:

Complete three rounds of online surveys via Qualtrics. Round 1: Suggest signs, symptoms, and factors for assessing or not assessing vitals.

Round 2: Rank importance of these factors on a 5-point Likert scale and suggest additional items.

Round 3: Review aggregated results and finalize consensus on criteria.

What is being tested

• E-Delphi (other)

Sponsor: Youngstown State University · Participants: 100 · Started: Nov 21, 2025

Contact the study team

• Edmund Ickert, PhD · Phone: 330-941-1326

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07258030

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.