ABSTRACT
Background: During unprecedented times of COVID- 19, continuing Physiotherapy through conventional mode is tough and limited to certain extent. To overcome the current situation, WCPT has strongly suggested the implementation of Tele-physiotherapy. Many studies have proven efficiency of Tele-rehabilitation in delivering rehabilitative services;still its use is limited in India may be due to knowledge and attitude of physiotherapists. Currently, no valid tool is available for assessing the attitude, knowledge and barrier of tele physiotherapy among Indian physiotherapist. Thus, the aim of the current study is to develop, validate and establish internal consistency of the questionnaire for the same. Participants: 60 physiotherapists with minimum of 1 year of and those who were willing to participate were included. Non-Practicing Physiotherapist were excluded from the study. Method: Questionnaire was drafted on the basis of previous studies under 4 domains: Demographics, Knowledge, Attitude and Barrier. A panel of 5 experts was formulated. A Delphi process was carried out to validate the developed questionnaire. The content validity ratio (CVR) was calculated. The questionnaire was sent to physiotherapists electronically/ physically and data of 60 Physiotherapist was analysed for Cronbach alpha coefficient using SPSS version 20. Results: The content validity ratio for the complete questionnaire was 0.98. 66.7 % of our sample was between the age of 25–35 years with 82.2% Physiotherapists were postgraduate and 26.2% being experienced for more than 10 years. The Cronbach alpha coefficient for internal Consistency of the questionnaire was good (0.77). Conclusion: The questionnaire is as an effective valid and reliable tool to assess knowledge, Attitude, and Barrier towards Tele physiotherapy. Implications: Developing and validating Questionnaire will help us measure the knowledge, Attitude and Barriers towards Tele- Physiotherapy amongst Physiotherapists across India in a comprehensive way. This in turn will help policymakers and Authorities to make new policies/ modify existing ones for effective use of Tele- Physiotherapy.