Background: Health care practitioners’ attitudes and beliefs concerning low back pain (LBP) have been reported to influence their patients’ prognosis. No specific information is available concerning Belgian caregivers.
Methods: Validated questionnaires were filled in by 98 participants, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and nurses, prior to attending educational programs about LBP.
Results: Biomedical attitudes and beliefs are widely prevalent in Belgium, even among participants claiming to understand the guidelines, with median scores on the biomedical and psychosocial scales of the Health Care Providers’ Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale and of the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists of 31, 35, and 50, respectively.
Discussion: This study highlights the need of continuous education on biopsychosocial management of LBP patients.
What is already known about the topic?
Many caregivers around the world maintain strong biomedical representations and beliefs about LBP, which results in inappropriate recommendations that negatively affect their patients’ evolution and progression. To date, there is no study available analyzing the representations and beliefs of Belgian caregivers.
What does this article bring up for us?
This study confirms the observations made in other Western countries, namely the persistence of biomechanical representations and beliefs with potential severe impact on patients, despite a scientifically-based international consensus achieved. This study outcome highlights further training needs.
Key Words
Low back pain, prevention, yellow flags