Profile, attitudes and beliefs of physiotherapists in the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain

Abstract Introduction: About 84% of the population have had some low back symptom during their lifetime; where 23% of cases become chronic pain. It is observed that in around 85% of cases of chronic low back pain, there is no specific cause or diagnosis, where it is referred to as chronic nonspecific low back pain. Given its disabling potential, the comprehensive assessment, attitudes and beliefs of the physiotherapist in clinical management become essential to the prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between sociodemographic/socioeducational and work profile and the attitudes and beliefs of physiotherapists in the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. For data collection, two questionnaires were used, one referring to the sociodemographic/socioeducational profile information and the other referring to attitudes and beliefs determined by the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists. Data were analyzed using the BioEstat 5.0 program using descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05). Results: Fifty-seven physical therapists were analyzed, where most were women (61.4%), had specialization (56.2%), worked in private clinics (63.2%) and used specific methods in the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain (84.2%). Biomedical belief was predominant (70.2%) and showed a significant relationship with age (p = 0.0006). Conclusion: The biomedical model is still predominantly used, which is related to the age of the professionals surveyed.

摘要与引言：约84%的人群在一生中曾出现过下腰痛症状，其中23%的病例会发展为慢性疼痛。据观察，约85%的慢性下腰痛病例无明确病因或诊断，此类情况被称为慢性非特异性下腰痛（chronic nonspecific low back pain）。鉴于该病具有致残性，物理治疗师（physiotherapist）在临床诊疗中的综合评估、态度与信念对预后至关重要。
研究目的：探讨物理治疗师的社会人口学/社会教育背景与职业特征，及其在慢性非特异性下腰痛诊疗中的态度与信念之间的关联。
研究方法：本研究为横断面定量研究。数据收集采用两份问卷：一份用于收集社会人口学/社会教育背景相关信息，另一份采用《物理治疗师疼痛态度与信念量表》（Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists）评估研究对象的态度与信念。采用BioEstat 5.0软件对数据进行分析，使用描述性统计、t检验及Pearson相关分析（p < 0.05）。
研究结果：共纳入57名物理治疗师进行分析，其中多数为女性（61.4%），拥有专科资质（56.2%），在私立诊所执业（63.2%），且在慢性非特异性下腰痛诊疗中使用特定干预方法（84.2%）。生物医学信念占主导地位（70.2%），且与年龄呈显著相关（p=0.0006）。
研究结论：生物医学模式仍为当前主流的诊疗模式，且与受访物理治疗师的年龄相关。