Health care providers' orientations towards common low back pain predict perceived harmfulness of physical activities and recommendations regarding return to normal activity

Ruud M.A. Houben*, Raymond W.J.G. Ostelo, Johan W.S. Vlaeyen, Pieter M.J.C. Wolters, Madelon Peters, Suzanne G.M. Stomp-van Den Berg

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT) differentiates between a biomedical versus a biopsychosocial treatment orientation with regard to common low back pain. This study re-examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the PABS-PT, along with the relationship between PABS-PT scores and the perceived harmfulness of physical activities and treatment recommendations for common low back pain. Two hundred and ninety-seven paramedical therapists completed the PABS-PT and questionnaires measuring related concepts, rated the perceived harmfulness of 41 daily physical activities depicted in photographs and gave recommendations for return to normal activity for three patients with low back pain. Analysis revealed two factors labelled 'biomedical' and 'biopsychosocial treatment orientation'. Furthermore, scores on both factors of the PABS-PT were related to measures of related concepts (statistically significant Pearson correlation coefficients between 0.30 and 0.65) such as the HC-PAIRS and a therapist version of the TSK. Regression analyses revealed that both factors were consistent predictors of judgements of the harmfulness of physical activities (PHODA) and of recommendations for return to work and normal activity.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)173-183
    Number of pages11
    JournalEuropean Journal of Pain
    Volume9
    Issue number2 SPEC. ISS.
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

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