| Sumario: | Purpose. The impact of the Internet on health care is growing, therefore emphasizing the need for physical therapists to become knowledgeable about using and evaluating this technology as a source of information. As the profession of physical therapy moves toward online education and evidence-based practice, skill in the use of the Internet will be essential. While clinicians have always been encouraged to use the latest research in clinical practice, the Internet makes access to that information immediate. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine access, current skill criteria used to evaluate Web sites, and professional use of the Internet by physical therapists in Michigan. Methods. Five hundred licensed physical therapists from the three largest counties in Michigan were randomly selected to participate. One hundred ninety-three surveys were completed and returned (38.6 response rate). Results. Sixty percent of physical therapists reported they have Internet access at work, with physical therapists working in public schools reporting the greatest access. Fifty-three percent reported they had little experience in using the Internet for professional purposes. The most commonly used professional resource was MEDIINE (45.5%). The top criteria used to evaluate the quality of information found on the Internet were personal knowledge (6191.) and site sponsorship (39.50. Conclusions. This study suggests a need to increase the knowledge and comfort of physical therapists in using and evaluating the Internet for professional purposes.
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