Preventing chronic back pain: evaluation of a theory-based cognitive-behavioural training programme for patients with subacute back pain.
OBJECTIVE
For long-term treatment effects, patients with subacute back pain need to adhere to treatment recommendations beyond the prescribed exercise treatment. Adherence rates are as low as 30%, so we developed a cognitive-behavioural training programme to enhance patients' self-efficacy, maximise severity perceptions and reduce barrier perceptions.


METHODS
A 2 x 4 (group x time) repeated measurement design was applied. Forty-seven patients with non-specific, subacute back pain were randomly assigned to a training group (exercise treatment plus cognitive-behavioural training programme) or a control group (exercise treatment only).


RESULTS
Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main and interaction effects; the training group reported enhanced self-efficacy and severity perceptions, reduced barrier perceptions, and self-reported that they exercised more often than the control group over time. However, no group differences regarding pain intensity emerged.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that a short and inexpensive cognitive-behavioural training programme is an effective tool to enable back pain patients to follow treatment recommendations on a regular basis.


CONCLUSIONS
The short and simple intervention can easily be conducted by personnel, other than psychologists, i.e., physiotherapists.
University of Freiburg, Department of Sport and Sport Sciences, Schwarzwaldstr. 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany. wiebke.goehner@sport.uni-freiburg.de
Wiebke
W
Göhner
Wolfgang
W
Schlicht
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001416:Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy