Eficácia de um programa educativo online para modificar crenças sobre dor lombar em fisioterapeutas: ensaio clínico aleatorizado

Abstract

Question: Is an online educational program based on international clinical guidelines effective in modifying physical therapists’ beliefs about managing lower back pain? Study Design: Randomized clinical trial with concealed allocation and intention-totreat analysis. Participants: 106 physical therapists treating patients with low back pain. Intervention: The intervention group received an online educational program based on international clinical guidelines, with access for 6 weeks. The control group received no intervention, only minimal information about the educational program at the time of recruitment. Measured Outcomes: The primary outcome was beliefs about lower back pain measured through the Modified Back Beliefs Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire and two questions assessing the perceived need for imaging exams for patients with low back pain. Participants were reassessed at 6 weeks. Results: For the primary outcome, a the group who received the online educational program increased 7.6 (95%CI: 5.1; 10.1) compared to the control group, meaning that the intervention was able to improve back pain beliefs. Similar results favoring the intervention group was found for the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire and the questions about imaging exams. Conclusion: The online educational program, based on international clinical guidelines, was effective in improving physical therapists’ beliefs regarding the management of back pain.