Physical therapist vs. family practitioner knowledge of simple low back pain management in the U.S. Air Force.
The purpose of this study was to compare knowledge in managing low back pain (LBP) between physical therapists and family practice physicians. Fifty-four physical therapists and 130 family practice physicians currently serving in the U.S. Air Force completed standardized examinations assessing knowledge, attitudes, the usefulness of clinical practice guidelines, and management strategies for patients with LBP. Beliefs of physical therapists and family practice physicians about LBP were compared using relative risks and independent t tests. Scores related to knowledge, attitudes, and the usefulness of clinical practice guidelines were generally similar between the groups. However, physical therapists were more likely to recommend the correct drug treatments for patients with acute LBP compared to family practice physicians (85.2% vs. 68.5%; relative risk: 1.24 [95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.46]) and believe that patient encouragement and explanation is important (75.9% vs. 56.2%; relative risk: 1.35 [95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.67]). In addition, physical therapists showed significantly greater knowledge regarding optimal management strategies for patients with LBP compared to family practice physicians. The results of this study may have implications for health policy decisions regarding the utilization of physical therapists to provide care for patients with LBP without a referral.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510.
Michael D
MD
Ross
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
John D
JD
Childs
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Cory
C
Middel
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Julie
J
Kujawa
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Daniel
D
Brown
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Molly
M
Corrigan
Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, US Army-Baylor University, ATTN: MCCS-HMT, 3151 Scott Road, Suite 1230, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Nate
N
Parsons
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D059825:Physical Therapists; D010821:Physicians, Family; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States