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A. Fourré1,2, A. Fierens3, N. Vanden Dorpe2, L. Ris1, F. Dierick4,5, N. Roussel2
1University of Mons, Department of Neurosciences, Mons, Belgium, 2University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium, 3UCLouvain, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 4Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 5Haute Ecole Louvain en Hainant, CeREF, Mons, Belgium
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the world first musculoskeletal disorder considering years lived with disability (Hartvigsen et al., 2018). Despite the numerous guidelines promoting a bio-psycho-social (BPS) approach in the management of patients with LBP, many healthcare practitioners (HCP) still manage LBP patients mainly from a biomedical point of view (Zadro et al., 2019). This is reflected by overuse of medical imaging and medication (Mafi et al., 2013), advice to restrict work and activities (Darlow et al., 2012), and insufficient attention towards psychosocial risk factors during actual consultations (Roussel et al., 2015), which is all guideline-discordant. Implementation strategies designed to change HCP behavior only had limited effects or were not effective at all (Flodgren et al., 2016).
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an interactive e-learning module on the management of LBP in HCP. HCP perceptions of change in knowledge and beliefs as well as the content, structure, length and access of the module were assessed.
Methods: In total 22 HCP have been recruited. Participants completed and evaluated the e-learning module with an online questionnaire. The online questionnaire included 22 items based on similar feasibility studies. Likert Scales (n=17) and qualitative open questions (n=5) were both used. Before and after completing the module, participants filled the Back-PAQ questionnaire (Darlow et al., 2014) to evaluate the potential effect of the module on their attitudes and beliefs about LBP. The Back-PAQ data were analysed with paired Student t-test.
Results: The feasibility of the module was confirmed, it was structured and easy to complete (91%) and met the expectations of the participants (86%). A majority agreed that the module improved their knowledge (69%). According to the HCP the time to complete the module (36 ± 9.6 minutes) was adequate (91%). Some participants (77%) identified specific topics that might be discussed in more detail in the module. Moreover, HCP knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about back pain significantly improved following module completion (p < .01).
Conclusion(s): The interactive e-learning module seems feasible and effective. Participants were positive regarding the content, they found it sufficient and clear. The module was appealing, structured and easy to complete. Moreover, the module has been effective to change knowledge and beliefs of the participants. Suggestions have been made to improve it in the future.
Implications: The results of the current pilot study served to steer the intervention that is currently being examined in a large randomized controlled trial with process evaluation. The results of this study will allow to gain more insights on the behavior of HCP in clinical practice after this interactive e-learning module.
Funding, acknowledgements: This study is part of the NOMADe project (n°4.7.360) funded by Interreg Europe.
Keywords: e-learning, low back pain, guidelines
Topic: Education: methods of teaching & learning
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: Cliniques Universitaire Saint-Luc (UCL Bruxelles)
Committee: Comité d'Ethique Hospitalo-Facultaire Saint-Luc
Reason: This study was not concerned by the law of the 07 of may 2004 related to human experiments
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
