L. Diniz1, C. Oliveira2, M. Franco3, D. Santos1, S. Melo1, T. Souza1, R. Pinto1
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Physical Therapy, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Physical Therapy, Presidente Prudente, Brazil, 3Centro Universitário UNA, Physical Therapy, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) show erroneous beliefs regarding their condition which can make it difficult for clinicians to discuss and implement evidence-based management in clinical practice. There is evidence to support the use of written materials, designed specifically for the prevention of LBP at work and for the management of LBP, to change health beliefs and attitudes of workers and patients, respectively. Nevertheless, whether more contemporary formats, infographics and video animations, are more effective for changing patient's beliefs about LBP compared to written summary remains unclear.
Purpose: To investigate what format of brief patient information materials (i.e. written summary, infographic and video animation) containing evidence-based information would be more effective to change beliefs of patients with LBP.
Methods: This a randomised controlled trial (RBR-5rvntq). One hundred and fifty-nine patients with non-specific low back pain were recruited from outpatient physiotherapy clinics.Participants were randomised to receive brief patient information materials in one of three formats: video animation, infographic or written summary. The primary outcome was the Back Beliefs Questionnaire.
Results: All 159 patients completed the study. The mean change from baseline to follow-up was 6.9 points (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 6.1, 7.6). However there were no between group differences for the Back Beliefs Questionnaire: the mean difference between the infographic and video animation was 0.9 points (95% CI: -1.0, 2.7), between written summary and video animation was 1.2 points (95% CI: -0.6, 3.0) and between written summary and infographic was 0.4 point (95% CI: -1.5, 2.2).
Conclusion(s): Our findings showed that the three formats for presenting patient information were equally effective for improving patients’ beliefs about the inevitable consequences of LBP.
Implications: Our findings suggest that innovative patient information materials may have a role in changing beliefs of patients with LBP but traditional written summary should still be valued as a tool for informing and educating patients.
Funding, acknowledgements: The Minas Gerais Research Funding Agency - FAPEMIG (APQ-00190-18) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq.
Keywords: Low back pain, Infographic, Patients' beliefs
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Committee: Federal University of Minas Gerais Human Research Ethic Committee
Ethics number: CAEE 85676818.5.0000.5149
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
