Providing services for acute low-back pain: A survey of Australian physiotherapists

J.L. Keating; J.E. McKenzie; D.A. O'Connor; S. French; B.F. Walker; M. Charity; M.J. Page; S.E. Green

doi:10.1016/j.math.2015.11.005

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Providing services for acute low-back pain: A survey of Australian physiotherapists

J.L. Keating, J.E. McKenzie, D.A. O'Connor, S. French, B.F. Walker, M. Charity, M.J. Page and S.E. Green

Manual Therapy, Vol.22, pp.145-152

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2015.11.005

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Abstract

Objective To determine whether physiotherapists avoid lumbar X-rays for acute non-specific low back pain and advise people to stay active. Methods We conducted a cross sectional survey of Australian physiotherapists. 880 physiotherapists were randomly sampled from Victoria (495), South Australia (158), and Western Australia (227). Physiotherapists were asked which investigations they would order and interventions they would provide for five acute low back pain (LBP) presentations described in vignettes. Four of the five vignettes represented people who would not require a plain lumbar X-ray and would benefit from advice to stay active; one described a patient with a suspected vertebral fracture and would require a plain X-ray. Participants selected from a list of response options or provided free text responses. Results Questionnaires were completed by 203 of 567 potentially eligible physiotherapists (response rate 36%). Across the four vignettes where an X-ray was not indicated, 75% (95%CI 71–78%) of physiotherapists reported they would practice concordant with the guidelines and not order an X-ray, and 62% (95%CI 57–66%) provided advice to stay active. Conclusions Most physiotherapists report intended compliance with recommendations in Australian clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding avoiding the use of X-rays and providing advice to stay active for people with simple acute low back pain, given a vignette based scenario. The majority of respondents reported that they would not advise bed rest. Possible opportunities to further enhance compliance need to be developed and tested to reinforce the role of CPGs in informing physiotherapy practice.

Details

Title: Providing services for acute low-back pain: A survey of Australian physiotherapists
Authors/Creators: J.L. Keating (Author/Creator) - Monash University
J.E. McKenzie (Author/Creator) - Monash University
D.A. O'Connor (Author/Creator) - Monash University
S. French (Author/Creator) - Queen's University
B.F. Walker (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
M. Charity (Author/Creator) - Victoria University
M.J. Page (Author/Creator) - Monash University
S.E. Green (Author/Creator) - Monash University
Publication Details: Manual Therapy, Vol.22, pp.145-152
Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
Identifiers: 991005543289107891
Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Health Professions
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.129 Back pain; 1.129.98 Low Back Pain
Web Of Science research areas: Rehabilitation
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine