Faster Insights: Qualitative Analysis in Physical Therapy

According to the 2026 PLOS One study, PROMIS CATs were feasible and generally acceptable in primary care physical therapy, but wider implementation depended on reducing duplicate questionnaires, improving score interpretation, and fitting the tool into clinical workflows.

• The study published on November 13, 2026, included 25 surveyed physical therapists, 10 interviewed physical therapists, and 9 interviewed patients across 14 Dutch physical therapy practices.
• According to the study, 80% of surveyed physical therapists expressed interest in using PROMIS CATs, while only 28% reported regular daily use.
• According to the study, 100% of surveyed physical therapists found PROMIS CATs easy to administer, but only 40% considered them time-efficient.
• The study found that patients generally described the CATs as quick and relevant when results were used during consultations.
• AI-enabled thematic analysis can help research teams compare survey patterns with interview themes, identify divergent perspectives, and organize evidence for implementation decisions.

The 2026 PLOS One study evaluated Dutch-Flemish PROMIS CATs for adults with musculoskeletal spine and upper-extremity conditions receiving primary care physical therapy. Researchers integrated the CATs into electronic health record workflows across 14 practices and assessed acceptability, demand, practicality, and implementation.

The study used a mixed-methods design: 25 physical therapists completed a survey, while 10 physical therapists and 9 patients participated in semi-structured interviews. Two researchers independently performed open coding, compared codes through consensus meetings, and mapped inductively developed themes onto Bowen's feasibility domains.

The study reported that physical therapists generally viewed PROMIS CATs as useful for treatment evaluation and focused discussions. However, the study also identified barriers involving legacy PROMs, patient portal problems, uncertainty about T-scores and cut-offs, and concerns that some items were repetitive or insufficiently specific.

One interviewed patient said, "It zoomed in on what mattered to me, instead of asking irrelevant things" (Patient #4). One physical therapist described a central implementation problem: "If the CAT can replace NPRS, PSFS, and Quebec while giving the same information, that’s a win-win" (PT #6).

The study's findings are research evidence about feasibility and user experience, not clinical guidance or a diagnostic assessment.

The 2026 PLOS One study shows that PROMIS CATs can be acceptable and practical in physical therapy, but implementation depends on reducing duplicate measurement, improving interpretation, and aligning tools with real workflows.

The study also demonstrates why qualitative analysis matters: interviews explained the difference between clinician perceptions and patient experiences, while thematic coding revealed barriers that percentages alone could not clarify.

AI-enabled qualitative research can help teams process transcripts and open-ended survey data faster while preserving segment comparisons and traceable themes. Researchers should combine AI assistance with human review, ethical safeguards, and transparent documentation.

Physical therapy researchers and healthcare teams can try Evidano for free to accelerate qualitative synthesis across interviews, surveys, and research documents.