title: Patients' views of receiving lessons in the Alexander technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lessons in the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription proved effective for managing low back pain in primary care in a clinical trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand trial participants' expectations and experiences of the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire assessing attitudes to the intervention, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, was completed at baseline and 3-month follow-up by 183 people assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique and 176 people assigned to exercise prescription. Semi-structured interviews to assess the beliefs contributing to attitudes to the intervention were carried out at baseline with14 people assigned to the lessons in the Alexander Technique and 16 to exercise prescription, and at follow-up with 15 members of the baseline sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaire responses indicated that attitudes to both interventions were positive at baseline but became more positive at follow-up only in those assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique. Thematic analysis of the interviews suggested that at follow-up many patients who had learned the Alexander Technique felt they could manage back pain better. Whereas many obstacles to exercising were reported, few barriers to learning the Alexander Technique were described, since it 'made sense', could be practiced while carrying out everyday activities or relaxing, and the teachers provided personal advice and support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the Alexander Technique was viewed as effective by most patients. Acceptability may have been superior to exercise because of a convincing rationale and social support and a better perceived fit with the patient's particular symptoms and lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. l.yardley@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yardley
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Webley
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom