Exploring Physiotherapist's Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Clinical Decision-making Regarding Physical Activity in Chronic Pain Management.

NCT06605729 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: B3002022000133Project ID 3805
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 330
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic pain is a globally increasing problem, with enormous impact on the individual and society. Within the treatment of chronic pain, physical activity is a key strategy to improve pain-related complaints. There is ample evidence that physical activity has numerous benefits and few drawbacks. However, the literature shows that those who experience chronic pain experience difficulty performing and sustaining physical activity, and several barriers emerge that hinder physical activity. Patients indicate a need for the supportive role of the health care provider when it comes to guidance toward physically active lifestyle. On the other hand, caregivers find it difficult to fill this role. This can cause frustration for both parties, with a negative impact on the delivery of care. Within the treatment of chronic pain, the physiotherapist is an important healthcare provider. However, it is currently not clear how physiotherapists fulfill their role in the treatment of a patient with chronic pain. It is also not known what the current knowledge is among physiotherapists on chronic pain management, what the perceptions and beliefs around physical activity in the treatment of chronic pain are, and what the clinical decisions are that they make in the treatment of chronic pain in terms of physical activity. To obtain the best and broadest possible answers to these research questions, this study will examine these themes among physiotherapists with respect to two patient groups; namely, patients who experience persistent pain after completing their cancer treatment and individuals with chronic low back pain. Demographic data such as age, employment, occupational specializations, etc. is gathered. Furthermore, knowledge of chronic pain, underlying thoughts and perceptions around chronic pain and physical activity, and clinical decisions of a physiotherapist in treating a patient with chronic pain, including decisions about physical activity will be examined. In addition, this study also investigates whether an elearning around chronic pain and physical activity, has an effect on these knowledge and treatment actions. Participants will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires at 2 time points via an online platform. A first measurement moment happens at the start of the study, after this the participant gets access to the elearning, the second measurement moment happens 30 days after the first measurement moment.

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP); Cancer Survivorship; Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Keywords

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation; Clinical Decision Making; Attitudes and beliefs; Physical Activity; Chronic Pain; Cancer Survivorship; Knowledge; Chronic Low Back Pain; elearning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• KNAP

  The Dutch Knowledge and Attitude on Pain (KNAP) questionnaire will be administered. It is a 30-item questionnaire which measures the knowledge on chronic pain and pain neurophysiology, biomedical or biopsychosocial beliefs on chronic pain and explicit beliefs on pain management strategies, including physical activity. Questions are statements that are scored on a 6 point Likert-scale, that ranges between: totally not agree (1) and totally agree (6). The total score ranges from 30-180, where a higher overall score indicates better knowledge on pain neurophysiology and a more modern pain-management approach. The KNAP has good measurement properties to evaluate HCPs' knowledge on and attitudes towards modern pain neuroscience.

  At baseline and at 30 days

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Clinical Case Questionnaire

  At baseline and at 30 days

• IAT

  At baseline.

Study Arms (1)

e-learning

EXPERIMENTAL

The aim of the educational module intervention is to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behavior of HCPs about physical activity as a part of the management of chronic pain. The content of is based on most recent scientific knowledge and guidelines about the management of chronic pain and physical activity and on behavioral change. Four themes are presented: chronic pain, physical activity and chronic pain, specific populations and behavior change. Each subpart can be studied separately. Having separated chapters will be easier for participants to navigate the content, to follow along and to be able to integrate the knowledge in their daily practice. The module will be available online through Teachable™ and will contain a mixture of video and additional written material. Completing the complete module will take approximately 2 hours.

Other: e-learning

Interventions

e-learning OTHER

The content of this e-learning is based on most recent scientific knowledge and guidelines about the management of chronic pain and physical activity and on behavioral change. Four themes are presented: chronic pain, physical activity and chronic pain, specific populations and behavior change.

e-learning

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• To be able to read and write Dutch.
• To have access to a computer with an internet connection.
• Currently working as a physiotherapist in Belgium or the Netherlands.
• Experience with the population at hand.

You may not qualify if:

• currently not working as a physiotherapist.
• Other health care professionals.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universiteit Antwerpen: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Antwerp

Wilrijk, Antwerp, 2610, Belgium

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavior; Motor Activity; Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Mira Meeus, Doctoral degree

  Universiteit Antwerpen

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Nathalie Roussel, Doctoral degree

  Universiteit Antwerpen

  STUDY CHAIR

• An De Groef, Doctoral degree

  Universiteit Antwerpen

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. dr. Mira Meeus

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 4, 2024
• First Posted: September 20, 2024
• Study Start: December 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2026
• Study Completion: February 28, 2026
• Last Updated: March 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations

BE (1)