The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of an online educational program for physical therapists to change back pain beliefs. The main questions it aims to answer are: \- What is the effect of an online educational program to change beliefs about the management of back pain in physical therapists? A total of 106 physical therapists will be recruited for this study. Participants will be randomized into two groups: intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive a 6-week online educational program including recommendations from international clinical practice guidelines for the management of back pain. The control group will not receive any intervention. The outcomes of this trial include beliefs about management of back pain and imaging exams and will be assessed at baseline and 6 weeks after randomization.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
106
The intervention group will receive an online educational program, containing current information on low back pain management according to international clinical practice guidelines. Program content includes recommendations on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of low back pain. The online program has 6 units of studies, with the content offered in the formats of video classes, infographics, texts, websites and clinical cases. The participant must complete the course within 6 weeks and will be able to set their own pace. Participants in the intervention group will receive their login and access password via email.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Modified Back Belief Questionnaire
This questionnaire consists of 25 items assessing the following aspects: low back pain outcomes at work and patients' social life, treatment (including medication, surgical procedures, alternative treatments), low back pain prognosis, causes of low back pain and diagnostic methods. The score of each item follows a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, where each items mean, 1. "Completely Disagree"; 2. Disagree; 3. "I neither agree nor disagree"; 4. "Agree" and 5; "Completely Agree". To calculate the final score of the questionnaire, the score of each item on the Likert scale is transformed into a score ranging from -2 to 2. The total score of the questionnaire ranges from -50 to 50 points, with values closest to 50 points indicate more adequate beliefs regarding low back pain.
Time frame: Post-intervention (i.e. 6 weeks after randomization)
Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ)
The items in this questionnaire comprise general aspects related to low back pain, including beliefs about pain-related behavior and symptom recovery. The short version of the questionnaire with 10 items will be used. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The total score of the questionnaire ranges from -20 to 20, with lower values (or closer to 20) indicating more adequate beliefs.
Time frame: Post-intervention (i.e. 6 weeks after randomization)
Beliefs regarding imaging exams
Beliefs regarding imaging exams will be measured using two statements from a previous study5: Q1- 'X-rays or scans are necessary to get the best medical care for low back pain'; Q2 - 'Everyone with low back pain should have spine imaging (e.g. X-ray, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging)'. Participants indicated their agreement with each statement on a 5-point Likert scale of 'Strongly Disagree' (1) to 'Strongly Agree' (5). The 5-point Likert responses will be dichotomised into two categories: correct beliefs (disagree or strongly disagree) and incorrect beliefs (neither agree nor disagree, agree or strongly agree) about imaging prescription.
Time frame: Post-intervention (i.e. 6 weeks after randomization)
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