Attitudes and beliefs on low back pain in physical therapy education: A cross-sectional study

[en] Background: Prescription behavior in low back pain (LBP) differs between physical therapists with a biomedical versus a biopsychosocial belief, despite the presence of clinical guidelines. Objective: To examine (1) the beliefs of physical therapy students and their adherence to clinical LBP guidelines in Belgium and the Netherlands; (2) whether the beliefs and attitudes of physical therapy students change during education; (3) whether beliefs are related to guideline adherence; (4) whether beliefs and attitudes differ with or without a personal history of LBP. Methods: A cross-sectional design included students in the 2nd and 4th year of physical therapy education in 6 Belgian and 2 Dutch institutions. To quantify beliefs, the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale, the Health Care Providers’ Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale, and a clinical case vignette were used. Results: In total, 1624 students participated. (1) Only 47% of physical therapy students provide clinical guidelines’ consistent recommendations for activity and 16% for work. (2) 2nd year students score higher on the biomedical subscales and lower on the psychosocial subscale. 4th year students make more guideline consistent recommendations about work and activity. (3) Students with a more biopsychosocial belief give more guideline adherent recommendations. (4) Personal experience with LBP is not associated with different beliefs or attitudes. Conclusions: A positive shift occurs from a merely biomedical model towards a more biopsychosocial model from the 2nd to the 4th year of physical therapy education. However, guideline adherence concerning activity and work recommendations remains low. © 2020 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia

Disciplines :

Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine

Author, co-author :

Leysen, Marijke; Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (REVAKI), Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium, Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Department of Physical Therapy, Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Nijs, Jo; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Department of Physical Therapy, Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

Van Wilgen, Paul; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Department of Physical Therapy, Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

Demoulin, Christophe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la motricité > Kinésithérapie spécifique et réadaptation motrice

Dankaerts, Wim; Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Danneels, Lieven; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium

Voogt, Lennard; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Köke, Albère; Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, Netherlands

Pitance, Laurent; Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Brussels, Belgium

Roussel, Nathalie; Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (REVAKI), Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

Attitudes and beliefs on low back pain in physical therapy education: A cross-sectional study

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy

ISSN :

1413-3555

eISSN :

1809-9246

Publisher :

Revista Brasileira de Fisioterapia, Sao Carlos, Brazil

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 10 September 2020

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