How Do Physiotherapists Explain Influencing Factors to Chronic Low Back Pain? A Qualitative Study Using a Fictive Case of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Vanderstraeten, Rob;Fourré, Antoine;Demeure, Isaline;Demoulin, Christophe;Roussel, Nathalie;et.al.
(2023) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health — Vol. 20, n° 10, p. 5828 (2023)

Files

Vanderstraeten et al. - 2023 - How Do Physiotherapists Explain Influencing Factor.pdf
  • Open Access
  • Adobe PDF
  • 841.21 KB
Download

Details

Authors
  • Vanderstraeten, RobDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
    Author
  • Fourré, Antoineorcid-logoUCLouvain
    Author
  • Demeure, IsalineDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
    Author
  • Demoulin, ChristopheDepartment of Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Liege, EVAREVA, 4000 Liege, Belgium
    Author
  • Roussel, Nathalieorcid-logoDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
    Author
Show more
Abstract
Background: While pain is influenced by multiple factors including psychosocial factors, previous research has shown that physiotherapists still favour a biomedical approach. Purpose: To evaluate: (1) how physiotherapists explain the patient's chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP); (2) whether physiotherapists use one or multiple influencing factors, and (3) whether these factors are framed in a biopsychosocial or biomedical approach. Materials and methods: This exploratory qualitative study uses a vignette depicting chronic non-specific LBP and employs a flexible framework analysis. Physiotherapists were asked to mention contributing factors to the pain based on this vignette. Five themes were predefined ("Beliefs", "Previous experiences", "Emotions", "Patients behaviour", "Contextual factors") and explored. Results: Physiotherapists use very brief explanations when reporting contributing factors to chronic pain (median 13 words). Out of 670 physiotherapists, only 40% mentioned more than two different themes and 2/3rds did not see any link between the patients' misbeliefs and pain. Only a quarter of the participants mentioned the patient's worries about pain and movement, which is considered to be an important influencing factor. Conclusion: The lack of a multifactorial approach and the persistent biomedical beliefs suggest that it remains a challenge for physiotherapists to fully integrate the biopsychosocial framework into their management of chronic LBP.
Affiliations

Citations

  • APA
  • Chicago
  • FWB

Vanderstraeten, R., Fourré, A., Demeure, I., Demoulin, C., Michielsen, J., Anthierens, S., Bastiaens, H., & Roussel, N. (2023). How Do Physiotherapists Explain Influencing Factors to Chronic Low Back Pain? A Qualitative Study Using a Fictive Case of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10), 5828. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105828 (Original work published 2023)