Comparing the impact of interactive versus traditional e-learning on physiotherapists' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical decision-making in low back pain management: a randomized controlled trial.
Demoulin 2025 Fourre Comparing the impact of interactive versus traditional e-learning on physiotherapists knowledge attitudes and clinical decision-making in low back_Author.pdf
Low back pain; computer-assisted instruction; physical therapists; return to work
Abstract :
[en] [en] INTRODUCTION: Despite the recommendations to use a bio-psycho-social framework, many physiotherapists still manage their patients mainly from a biomedical point of view. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of two different e-learning interventions on knowledge, attitudes, and clinical decision-making of physiotherapists managing low back pain (LBP) to increase guideline-consistent care.
METHODS: Physiotherapists were allocated (1/1) either to an experimental or a traditional e-learning intervention. Baseline and post-intervention assessment included the Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS), Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ), Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), and a clinical vignette. Participants had 2 weeks to complete the post-intervention assessment. Statistics were processed using ANCOVA and Fisher's t-tests.
RESULTS: Four hundred nineteen physiotherapists were included in the analysis. Mean scores of HC-PAIRS, Back-PAQ, and NPQ significantly improved post-intervention in both groups. There was a significant effect of the intervention type (experimental versus traditional) on the scores of HC-PAIRS (p < .001; η2p = .243) and Back-PAQ (p < .001; η2p = .135) but not on NPQ scores. Return to work, recommendations assessed with the clinical vignette were significantly more guideline-consistent in the experimental group (p < .001) post-intervention.
CONCLUSION: An interactive e-learning intervention which includes concrete clinical examples and focused on patient's reassurance, self-management, and importance of screening psycho-social factors had more impact than a traditional e-learning intervention to enhance physiotherapists' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical decision-making regarding LBP.
Disciplines :
Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine
Author, co-author :
Fourré, Antoine ; Department of Neurosciences, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Michielsen, Jef ; Orthopedic Department, University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
Ris, Laurence ; Department of Neurosciences, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
Darlow, Ben ; Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Vanderstraeten, Rob ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Bastiaens, Hilde ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Demoulin, Christophe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation > Kinésithérapie spécifique et réadaptation motrice
Roussel, Nathalie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Comparing the impact of interactive versus traditional e-learning on physiotherapists' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical decision-making in low back pain management: a randomized controlled trial.
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