Management of Low Back Pain: Do Physiotherapists Know the Evidence-Based Guidelines?

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Apr 23;20(9):5611. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20095611.

Abstract

Background: Clinical practice guidelines promote bio-psychosocial management of patients suffering from low back pain (LBP). The objective of this study was to examine the current knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of physiotherapists about a guideline-adherent approach to LBP and to assess the ability of physiotherapists to recognise signs of a specific LBP in a clinical vignette.

Methods: Physiotherapists were recruited to participate in an online study. They were asked to indicate whether they were familiar with evidence-based guidelines and then to fill in the Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS), Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ), Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), as well as questions related to two clinical vignettes.

Results: In total, 527 physiotherapists participated in this study. Only 38% reported being familiar with guidelines for the management of LBP. Sixty-three percent of the physiotherapists gave guideline-inconsistent recommendations regarding work. Only half of the physiotherapists recognised the signs of a specific LBP.

Conclusions: The high proportion of physiotherapists unfamiliar with guidelines and demonstrating attitudes and beliefs not in line with evidence-based management of LBP is concerning. It is crucial to develop efficient strategies to enhance knowledge of guidelines among physiotherapists and increase their implementation in clinical practice.

Keywords: adherence; attitudes; beliefs; knowledge; red flags.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain* / diagnosis
  • Physical Therapists* / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This study recieved financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (Interreg FWVl NOMADe—N° 4.7.360).