Clinical orientation of physiotherapists toward chronic low back pain and their perception of its impact on patient functionality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22760438Keywords:
chronic low back pain, biomedical, biopsychosocial, functional impairment, physiotherapistsAbstract
Introduction: Chronic low back pain is among the most frequent causes of functional limitation and reduced quality of life, and is a common field of action in physiotherapy. The clinician's orientation—biomedical or biopsychosocial—and beliefs about the pain–disability relationship may facilitate or limit patients' functional course. The aim was to determine the clinical orientation of physiotherapists from Asunción and Greater Asunción toward chronic low back pain and their perception of its impact on patient functionality.
Materials and methods: Descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional quantitative study. HC-PAIRS and PABS-PT were applied via an online self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling; n = 30.
Results: Mean age 33.07 years (SD ±7.82; 23–49); female 63%. Bachelor's 67%, master's 30%, doctorate 3%. Biopsychosocial orientation 74%, biomedical 26%. Perceived pain–functional impairment relationship: moderate 97%, low 3%, high 0%. Non-significant correlations (biomedical vs HC-PAIRS: r = −0.275, p = 0.141; biopsychosocial vs HC-PAIRS: r = −0.206, p = 0.275).
Conclusions: The biopsychosocial model predominates, with a mostly moderate perceived pain–impairment relationship and no statistically significant association between the two dimensions in this sample.
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