Physical Therapists' Views and Experiences of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain and the Role of Acupuncture: Qualitative Exploration.
BACKGROUND
Low back pain is often accepted as a "normal" part of pregnancy. Despite research suggesting that quality of life for women who are pregnant is adversely affected, most are advised to self-manage. Although the use of acupuncture for the management of persistent nonspecific low back pain has been recommended in recent UK national guidelines, its use in the management of pregnancy-related low back pain remains limited.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of physical therapists involved in treating women who are pregnant and have low back pain with the objective of informing the pretrial training program for a pilot randomized trial (Evaluating Acupuncture and Standard care for pregnant womEn with Back pain [EASE Back]).


METHODS
A qualitative phenomenological method with purposive sampling was used in the study.


METHODS
Three focus groups and 3 individual semistructured interviews were undertaken, and an iterative exploratory thematic analysis was performed. To ensure transparency of the research process and the decisions made, an audit trail was created.


RESULTS
Twenty-one physical therapists participated, and emergent issues included: a lack of experience in treating pregnancy-related complaints, mixed messages from previous acupuncture education, a mistrust of the current evidence for acupuncture safety and effectiveness, and personal and professional fear of causing harm.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that UK physical therapists are reluctant to use acupuncture in the management of pregnancy-related low back pain. The explanations for these findings include perceived lack of knowledge and confidence, as well as a pervasive professional culture of caution, particularly fears of inducing early labor and of litigation. These findings have been key to informing the content of the training program for physical therapists delivering acupuncture within the pilot EASE Back trial.
J. Waterfield, EdD, MSc, School of Health and Rehabilitation and Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom. j.waterfield@keele.ac.uk.
Jackie
J
Waterfield
B. Bartlam, PhD, MA, Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University.
Bernadette
B
Bartlam
A. Bishop, PhD, MSc, Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University.
Annette
A
Bishop
M.A. Holden, PhD, BSc(Hons), Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University.
Melanie A
MA
Holden
P. Barlas, DPhil, BSc, School of Health and Rehabilitation and Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University.
Panos
P
Barlas
N.E. Foster, DPhil, BSc, Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University.
Nadine E
NE
Foster
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy