Does patient-physiotherapist agreement influence the outcome of low back pain? A prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Recent research suggests that agreement between patients' and health professionals' perceptions may influence the outcome of various painful conditions. This issue has received little attention in the context of low back pain and physiotherapy interventions. The current study aimed at exploring the relationship between patient-physiotherapist agreement on baseline low back pain intensity and related functional limitations, and changes in patient outcomes four weeks later.


METHODS
Seventy-eight patient-physiotherapist dyads were included in the study. At baseline, patients and physiotherapists completed a Numerical Rating Scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. Patients' perceptions were reassessed over the phone at follow-up.


RESULTS
Using multiple regression, baseline level of patient-physiotherapist agreement on pain intensity was associated with both outcome measures at follow-up. Agreement on functional limitations had no impact on outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that patient-physiotherapist agreement has some impacts on the short-term outcomes of low back pain. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Perreault
Kadija
K
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, G1K 7P4, Canada. kadija.perreault.1@ulaval.ca
Dionne
Clermont E
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome