Implementing BetterBack – a Best Practice Physiotherapy Healthcare Model for Low Back Pain : Clinician and Patient Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) occurs in all ages, and first-line treatment by physiotherapists (PTs) is common. However, national evidence-based LBP clinical guidelines are still lacking in Sweden. To facilitate guideline uptake, we developed and with a multifaceted strategy implemented a best practice physiotherapy healthcare model (BetterBack☺ MoC) with the aim of supporting management of LBP in primary care.The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate a multifaceted implementation strategy and a best practice physiotherapy healthcare model for LBP.Methods: This thesis is based on one methodological study and three experimental trials with PTs and patients with LBP. In Paper I a mixed method design was used to translate, tailor, validate and feasibility-test the Determinants of Implementation Behaviour Questionnaire (DIBQ). This tailored DIBQ Questionnaire (DIBQ-t) was used to evaluate potential barriers/facilitators during the implementation process together with evaluation of PTs' confidence, attitudes and beliefs in managing LBP. In a stepped cluster randomised controlled trial, PTs and their patients in three clusters were allocated to intervention group (after implementation of BetterBack☺ MoC) or control group (routine physiotherapy care). The proportions of guideline-adherent care were compared between groups (Paper III). This evaluation was based on PTs' adherence to eight clinical practice recommendations and three clinical practice quality indices (CPQI). The overall CPQI containing the five most prioritised recommendations are: no referral to specialist care; no referral to medical imaging for benign LBP; use of educational interventions; use of exercise interventions; and no use of non-evidence-based physiotherapy. Finally, in Paper IV patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared between intervention (after the implementation of BetterBack☺ MoC) and routine care. In Paper IV an additional secondary analysis was performed, comparing PROMs based on whether or not PTs had delivered care that met all five criteria of the overall CPQI or not.