title: Can a professional development workshop with follow-up alter practitioner behaviour and outcomes for neck pain patients? A randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuing professional development (CPD) is a fundamental component of physiotherapy practice. Follow-up sessions provide opportunity for the refinement of skills developed during CPD workshops. However, it is necessary to identify if such opportunity translates to improved physiotherapist performance and patient outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a traditional CPD workshop with a follow-up session with the educator is more likely to change physiotherapists' practice behaviour and patient outcomes than a traditional workshop with no opportunity for follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-blind, randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were stratified and randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The control group participated in a two-day workshop dedicated towards the management of neck disorders. The intervention group completed the two-day workshop and attended a five-hour follow-up session one month later. Outcome measures included self-reported physiotherapist practice behaviour and confidence, as well as patient clinical outcomes using the Neck Disability Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While all participants exhibited changes in confidence and practice behaviours, between-group differences were not significant for any response (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences between the groups in terms of patient outcomes (Neck Disability Index: F = 0.36, p = 0.56).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single follow-up session to a traditional workshop is insufficient to significantly influence practice behaviours or patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4069, Australia; Western Sydney University, Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit, School of Science and Health, New South Wales 2560, Australia. Electronic address: l.chipchase@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chipchase
authors.affiliation: Western Sydney University, Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit, School of Science and Health, New South Wales 2560, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavaleri
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4069, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000193:education*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Neck pain; Patient outcomes; Professional development