The aim of this study is to analyze, using a mixed-methods approach, the attitudes, perceptions, levels of technology acceptance, and competencies in the use of generative artificial intelligence among healthcare professionals working in the field of orthotics and prosthetics.

The study will reveal how the technological transformation in orthotics and prosthetics is perceived by healthcare professionals, and will also identify the professional requirements, barriers, and opportunities for integrating artificial intelligence technologies into practice.

In this way, it aims to provide a scientific reference for decision-makers to support the updating of professional education programs in orthotics and prosthetics, the development of institutional policies, and the wider adoption of AI-supported clinical applications.

Healthcare professionals working in the field of orthotics and prosthetics who voluntarily agree to participate will be included in the study. Based on the G*Power analysis, a minimum of 159 participants is required to achieve 95% statistical power at a 5% significance level (|ρ| = 0.277). Considering a possible sample loss of 10%, it was determined that the study should be conducted with at least 175 healthcare professionals.

For the quantitative part of the study, the Technology Acceptance Model Scale will be used to determine technology acceptance levels; the General Attitude Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale will be used to measure general attitudes toward AI; the Generative Artificial Intelligence Use and Competency Scale will be used to assess AI usage skills and AI-supported learning motivation; and the Artificial Intelligence Perception and Attitude Scale will be used to examine AI perceptions and usage tendencies.

For the qualitative part of the study, face-to-face interviews will be conducted with participants who actively use artificial intelligence in their field, using 8 semi-structured questions designed to evaluate AI awareness, its impact on clinical workflow, economic feasibility, and ethical and safety concerns. After the individual interviews, an online focus group interview will be conducted with 5 participants who use AI most intensively. The focus group will consist of 7 questions prepared to explore healthcare professionals' shared perceptions, usage experiences, professional concerns, and future suggestions regarding artificial intelligence through group interaction.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being 18 years of age or older,
• Actively working in the field of orthotics and prosthetics (e.g., healthcare institutions, private prosthetics-orthotics centers, universities, research laboratories, rehabilitation centers, etc.),
• Having at least 1 year of professional experience in the field of orthotics and prosthetics.

Exclusion Criteria:

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HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS FIELD

Individual participant data will not be shared. This study does not include patient data; the data consist of survey responses and qualitative interview data obtained from health professionals working in orthotics-prosthetics practice. Because the qualitative data include detailed participant narratives, there may be a risk of indirect identification even after anonymization. Therefore, individual-level data will not be shared with other researchers. Only aggregated findings will be reported in publications.