Abstract
Background and purpose
Adherence to clinical guidelines produces greater improvement in disability in patients with low back pain (LBP), but a wide variation in physiotherapists' adherence has been documented repeatedly. The aim of the study was to investigate the adherence to National Clinical Guidelines for LBP among Danish physiotherapists with regard to three key guideline domains: 1) activity, 2) work, and 3) psychosocial risk factors. Additionally to investigate whether adherence differed between physiotherapists working in private clinics and physiotherapists working at public healthcare centres.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 817 Danish physiotherapists. Adherence to the three guideline domains was assessed using two vignettes. The difference in adherence between the groups was assessed using the chi-squared test.
Results
Response rate was 29%. The proportions of physiotherapists giving advice that was strictly in line with the guideline domains were 32% (activity), 16% (work) and 82% (psychosocial risk factors) for Vignette 1 and 6% (activity), 53% (work) and 60% (psychosocial risk factors) for Vignette 2. Physiotherapists working at public healthcare centres were more likely to manage patients strictly in line with National Clinical Guidelines for assessing the psychosocial risk factors. Regarding the two other domains, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of adherence.
Conclusion
Overall, the participating Danish physiotherapists strictly adhered to only one out of three key domains. This confirms the importance of identifying barriers to implementation of the National Clinical Guidelines in physiotherapy care for patients with LBP, including implementation of the inherent bio-psychosocial model.
Conflicts of interest: None
Sources of funding: None
