Physiotherapists partially recognised cognitive , psychological and social factors in people with LBP .
Physiotherapists expressed a preference for dealing with the more mechanical aspects of LBP , and some stigmatised the behaviours suggestive of cognitive , psychological and social contributions to LBP .
Physiotherapists perceived that neither their initial training , nor currently available professional development training , instilled them with the requisite skills and confidence to successfully address and treat the multidimensional pain presentations seen in LBP .
QUESTION What are physiotherapists ' perceptions about identifying and managing the cognitive , psychological and social factors that may act as barriers to recovery for people with low back pain ( LBP ) ?
Does Teaching Physical Therapists to Deliver a Biopsychosocial Treatment Program Result in Better Patient Outcomes? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Psychosocial prognostic factors are important in the development of chronic pain , but treatment providers often lack knowledge and skills to assess and address these risk factors . Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effects on outcomes ( pain and disability ) in patients of a course about psychosocial prognostic factors for physical therapists . Design This study was a r and omized , controlled trial . Setting The setting was primary care practice . Participants Forty-two primary care physical therapists attended an 8-day university course ( over 8 weeks ) aim ed at identifying and addressing psychosocial risk factors . Intervention The physical therapists were r and omly assigned to either the course or a waiting list . They treated consecutive patients with acute and subacute musculoskeletal pain both before and after the course . Measurements We measured physical therapists ' attitudes and beliefs about psychosocial factors , knowledge , and skills before and after the course . We measured patients ' pain , disability , catastrophizing , and mood at the start of treatment and at a 6-month follow-up . Methods The physical therapists were r and omly assigned to either the course or a waiting list . They treated consecutive patients with acute and subacute musculoskeletal pain both before and after the course . Results Pain and disability outcomes in all patients of physical therapists who had participated in the course or in patients at risk of developing long-term disability who had higher levels of catastrophizing or depression were not significantly different from those outcomes in patients of physical therapists who had not participated in the course . Pain and disability outcomes in patients with a low risk of developing long-term disability— and pain outcomes in patients with a high risk of developing long-term disability — were not dependent upon whether the attitudes and beliefs of their physical therapists changed during the course . However , disability outcomes in patients with a high risk of developing long-term disability may have been influenced by whether the attitudes and beliefs of their physical therapists changed . Limitations A limitation of this study was that actual practice behavior was not measured . Conclusions An 8-day university course for physical therapists did not improve outcomes in a group of patients as a whole or in patients with a risk of developing long-term disability . However , patients who had a risk of developing long-term disability and had higher levels of catastrophizing or depression may have shown greater reductions in disability if the attitudes and beliefs of their physical therapists changed during the course
Physiotherapists partially recognised cognitive , psychological and social factors in people with LBP .
Physiotherapists expressed a preference for dealing with the more mechanical aspects of LBP , and some stigmatised the behaviours suggestive of cognitive , psychological and social contributions to LBP .
Physiotherapists perceived that neither their initial training , nor currently available professional development training , instilled them with the requisite skills and confidence to successfully address and treat the multidimensional pain presentations seen in LBP .
QUESTION What are physiotherapists ' perceptions about identifying and managing the cognitive , psychological and social factors that may act as barriers to recovery for people with low back pain ( LBP ) ?