title: Effect of a self-determination theory-based communication skills training program on physiotherapists' psychological support for their patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of communication skills training on physiotherapists' supportive behavior during clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital outpatient physiotherapy clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiotherapists (N=24) and patients (N=24) with chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hospital clinics were randomly assigned to the intervention arm. Physiotherapists (n=12) received 8 hours of communication skills training focused on supporting patients' psychological needs. Physiotherapists (n=12) from 2 other hospital clinics formed a waitlist control arm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Verbal communication between each physiotherapist and a patient was recorded on an audiotape, and independent, blinded raters used the Health Care Climate Questionnaire to assess physiotherapists' needs-supportive behavior (primary outcome).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent raters' Health Care Climate Questionnaire scores favored the intervention arm (Cohen's d=2.27; P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with controls, independent ratings demonstrated that physiotherapists who completed the Communication style and exercise compliance in physiotherapy training were found to provide greater support for patients' needs in a single assessed session. Long-term maintenance of this needs-supportive behavior should be examined.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Geoffrey C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health and Rehabilitation Technologies, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Ulster, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ntoumanis
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: chris.lonsdale@acu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lonsdale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D059825:Physical Therapists; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations
keywords: Communication; Motivation; Patient compliance; Physical therapists; Rehabilitation