Psychological Variables in Physiotherapy Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Comparison of Group and Individual Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to determent whether there is a difference between two types of treatments in physiotherapy (individual vs group) for patients with low back pain (LBP), in terms of their sensation of how they have been helped and their treatments' outcomes measures. The study hypothesizes are: a) Based on the results of literature review which does not reveal a clear difference between group and individual treatments' outcomes for LBP, it is hypothesized that no difference will be found in treatment results for the two types of group treatments in the present study also, b) The assumption is that different distribution of therapeutic factors will be found in the two types of treatments (individual, group), C) Patients' sensation of how they have been helped will be connected to treatment results.

Detailed Description
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200 patients with LBP looking for physiotherapy treatment in 15 clinics at Maccabi Healthcare Service in Israel will be recruited. (100 after competion individual therapy, 100 after competion of group therapy). As part of the regular routine in these clinics, patients will be asked to fill the LFSQ, a questionnaire which deals with their back functional status, their level of pain and fear avoidance of physical activity before and after treatment. In the present study, patients will be asked to fill the LFSQ again, 6 months after treatment completion. In two weeks from treatment completion, patients will be interviewed on the telephone. The interview will focuse on their sensation of how they have been helped. It will include an open-ended question and 18 closed questions. The main study variables will include: participants' perception of functional status, level pain, level of fear avoidance of physical activity, patient-therapist bonding, and helpful therapeutic impacts (client's sense of how she or he has been helped).

Official Title
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Psychological Variables in Physiotherapy Treatment for LBP: a Comparison Between Individual and Gruop Treatment

Conditions
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Low Back Pain

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Low back pain, 18 years old and older Hebrew speakers , who filled the LFSQ (Lumbar Functional Status Questionnaire) at first visit Agreed to participate in this study Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant After back or hip operation in the last year Back problem from non- orthopedic origin

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Individual<br>Treatment in the 'Individual group therapy' will include physiotherapy protocols usually used by physiotherapist working at Maccabi Healthcare Services (Exercises, Modalities, Maual therapy and Back Care education) | |
| group<br>Participants in group therapy will receive 6-8 group treatments (6-12 pateints per group) which will also include exercises and back-care education. No intervention will be done by the investigator.Therapists will use protocols commonly used in Maccabi Healthcate Services. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| lumbar functional status | participants are asked to fill the LFSQ - lumbar functional status questionnaire before and after tretment completion and after 6 months | at first and last visit and after 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| patients' perception on how they have been helped | data for this outcome measure will be collected through a telephone interview | in two weeks after the last visit | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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low back pain, lumbar pain