title: Mindfulness-Based Functional Therapy: a preliminary open trial of an integrated model of care for people with persistent low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study investigated the feasibility and clinical utility of implementing a novel, evidence-informed, interdisciplinary group intervention-Mindfulness Based Functional Therapy (MBFT)-for the management of persistent low back pain (LBP) in primary care. MBFT aimed to improve physical and psychological functioning in patients with persistent LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-group repeated measures design was utilized to gather data about feasibility, effect sizes, clinically significant changes and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community sample of 16 adults (75% female), mean (SD) age 47.00 (9.12) years (range 26-65 years), with mean (SD) LBP duration of 8.00 (9.00) years participated, using a simulated primary care setting at Curtin University in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  MBFT is an 8-week group intervention co-facilitated by psychology and physiotherapy disciplines. Content includes: mindfulness meditation training, cognitive-functional physiotherapeutic movement retraining, pain education, and group support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several validated self-report measures were used to assess functional disability, emotional functioning, mindfulness, pain catastrophizing, health-related quality of life at baseline, post-intervention, and 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adherence and satisfaction was high, with 85% of participants highly satisfied with MBFT. Clinical significance analysis and effect size estimates showed improvements in a number of variables, including pain catastrophizing, physical functioning, role limitations due to physical condition, and depression, although these may have occurred due to non-intervention effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBFT is feasible to implement in primary care. Preliminary findings suggest that a randomized controlled trial is warranted to investigate its efficacy in improving physical and emotional functioning in people with disabling persistent LBP.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schütze
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia ; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia ; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finlay-Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rees
keywords: chronic pain; clinical psychology; low back pain; mindfulness; pain catastrophizing; physiotherapy; pilot study