When to check vital signs during outpatient physical therapy
Official title: Development of a Decision Algorithm for Vital Sign Assessment in the Outpatient Physical Therapy Setting: An e-Delphi Study
Run by Youngstown State University · NCT07258030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try to create clear rules for outpatient physical therapists about when to check blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen levels.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Youngstown State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Youngstown, Ohio) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 21, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 2, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07258030 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are licensed outpatient physical therapists with at least five years of clinical experience, proficient in written English, and willing to complete all three online survey rounds.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are not licensed physical therapists, those with under five years of outpatient experience, or those unable to complete online surveys are not eligible and will not directly benefit from participating.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Vital sign assessment is often underused in outpatient physical therapy despite its potential to identify cardiovascular or respiratory problems and guide treatment intensity. This observational study will use a three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) process to gather and refine expert opinion from experienced outpatient physical therapists. Participants with at least five years' outpatient experience will list, rate, and re-rate clinical signs, symptoms, and contextual factors that should trigger or rule out vital sign checks. Responses will be compared across rounds to produce a consensus-based decision algorithm for when vital signs should or should not be measured.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the algorithm could make outpatient therapy safer by helping therapists identify patients who need vital sign checks while reducing unnecessary measurements for others.
How similar studies have gone: Delphi and e-Delphi methods have been widely used and successful for developing expert consensus in clinical guidelines, although applying them specifically to outpatient vital sign decision rules is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where it's running
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Youngstown State University
Youngstown, Ohio, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Edmund Ickert, PhD
- Email: ecickert@ysu.edu
- Phone: 330-941-1326
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.