Association Between Outpatient Physical Therapist Personality and Patient Management Outcomes: A Preliminary Study

Healthcare increasingly recognizes non-medical factors in patient outcomes. This study examined whether outpatient physical therapist (PT) personality traits are associated with patient management outcomes. Understanding these relationships may provide insights into optimizing patient care and guiding workforce development in physical therapy.

This preliminary cross-sectional study included 60 PTs from outpatient clinics who completed the Big Five Inventory-10, a validated personal¬ity assessment that measures five key personality dimensions. Patient outcomes, including functional status, satis¬faction, and billing practices were collected using standardized clinic measures. Associations between PT personality traits and patient outcomes were analyzed using correlation and regression analyses.

Higher PT extraversion (r = 0.33) and openness (r = 0.26) were associated with improved patient satisfaction scores. In regression, extraversion significantly predicted higher patient satisfaction (b = 0.28, p = 0.03). No personality traits were significantly correlated with functional status or billing practices.

PT personality may influence patient satisfaction, suggesting potential implications for training and workforce development. Larger, multi-site studies are needed to confirm and expand these findings. Clinically, these results highlight that traits such as energy, sociability, and enthusiasm often seen in extraverted individuals may enhance patient experience.