Extrait

Background and study aims This is an initial study looking at the communication and decision-making that takes place in consultations between physiotherapists and people with back pain. Our goal is to provide some workshops for clinicians to help improve their communication skills and see whether this improves the outcome of treatment and experience of the service from the patients’ point of view. Who can participate? Physiotherapists working in Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust; and people with back pain (aged 18 years or over, able to communicate in English without assistance, with no signs or symptoms suggesting possible serious spinal pathology and no recent spinal surgery). What does this study involve? In this initial study, 60 people with back pain will be asked to complete a questionnaire booklet after they have attended their initial consultation. Twelve of these patients will also be asked their permission for a research assistant to watch and audio-record their consultation. The twelve physiotherapists will be randomly be allocated to one of two groups. One group will attend a workshop about communication skills (the content of which has been developed from earlier work) and the other group will have a workshop about manual therapy skills. The physiotherapists will be asked to evaluate the workshops (via an interview) and two months later, discuss whether the workshops have changed their clinical practice (via focus groups). Both workshops will be delivered by the same facilitator and will be supported by a training manual. After the workshops, a further 60 people with back pain will be asked to complete the questionnaire booklet as before and once again, twelve of these will be asked if their consultation can be watched and audio-recorded by the research assistant. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? There will be no direct benefit to those taking part before the workshops. The physiotherapists will receive additional teaching and any benefit to people with back pain (after the physiotherapists have attended the workshops) will be measured. Information obtained from this initial study will be used to devise a larger study involving other centres. By taking part in this study, there are no anticipated risks of physical injury or harm. Where is the study run from? This study has been set up by the University of Southampton in collaboration with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? April 2013 to 31st July 2013 Who is funding the study? Arthritis Research UK (UK) Who is the main contact? Dr Lisa Roberts [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Back pain

Liens

• isrctn
• ictrp