Attitudes and beliefs towards low back pain (LBP) among physiotherapists in Spain

  1. Pérez, Sebastián Eustaquio Martín
  2. González, Lucía Llanos
  3. Acevedo, Irene Acosta
  4. Barrera, Raúl Bilbao
  5. Pérez, José Luis Alonso
  6. Romero, Eleuterio Atanasio Sánchez
  7. Reina, María Dolores Sosa
  8. Pérez, Isidro Miguel Martín
  9. Villafañe, Jorge Hugo
  1. 1 Universidad Europea de Canarias
    info

    Universidad Europea de Canarias

    Orotava, España

    ROR https://ror.org/051xcrt66

  2. 2 Universidad Europea de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Europea de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04dp46240

  3. 3 Onelife Center, Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Center
  4. 4 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

  5. 5 IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan
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Revista:
Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy

ISSN: 1110-6611,  2536-9660

Año de publicación: 2022

Volumen: 27

Número: 1

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1186/S43161-022-00112-9 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy

Repositorio institucional: lock_openAcceso abierto Editor

Resumen

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to investigate the attitudes and beliefs of Spanish physiotherapists towards the diagnosis and management of low back pain (LBP). A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted according to STROBE guidelines from December 18, 2021, to May 2022. An online survey was developed based on Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT), a reliable and validated self-administered instrument developed to assess the strength of two possible treatment orientations of physiotherapists towards the diagnosis and management of LBP. Respondents were selected through a non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique, and the selection criteria were (1) active physiotherapists with no restrictions on gender and length of service, (2) physical therapists who have worked in both public and private environments, and (3) physiotherapists who have been officially registered with no restriction on the place of practice in Spain. Survey data was obtained and analyzed using the SPSS Statistic 28 (IBM®) statistical software.ResultsThree hundred eighty-one questionnaires were finally included (F;n=151, M;n=230). In relation to the diagnosis, the respondents indicated that the tissue damage was sufficient to explain widespread and lasting pain, but rather that it was due to psychological factors. In addition, for those surveyed, the diagnosis should not focus exclusively on imaging tests but on clinical symptoms and signs. However, the weak relationship between objective damage and perceived pain intensity, as well as the weak relationship between posture and the development or worsening of LBP, did not seem to be clear to physiotherapists. From the point of view of treatment, we can indicate that professionals are committed to maintaining adequate and individualized physical activity as a first-line treatment in pain management.ConclusionsMost physiotherapists in Spain have up-to-date knowledge of the biopsychosocial model of pain care. However, regarding attitudes and beliefs towards LBP, there are still contents and behaviors based on spine protective paradigms that are not conducive to active pain management.

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Información de financiación

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

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