Physiotherapists’ perceptions on using a multidimensional clinical reasoning form during psychologically informed training for low back pain.

Ian Cowell, Alison McGregor, Peter O'Sullivan, Kieran O'Sullivan, Ross Poyton, Ged Murtagh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Building clinical reasoning skills is important to effectively implement psychologically informed practice. We developed a multidimensional clinical reasoning form (CRF) to be used by physiotherapists in a psychologically informed practice training programme for low back pain. In this paper we describe the development of the CRF, how the CRF was used in the training, and present an evaluation of physiotherapists’ perceptions of the CRF. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten physiotherapists purposively sampled in primary care. Data were gathered through pre, and post training focus group interviews and a secondary analysis of individual physiotherapist interviews conducted after the training. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and capture the emergent themes. Results: Two main themes emerged before the training: (1) the CRF ‘needs formal training’ and (2) ‘lacked instruction’. Three main themes emerged after the training (1) it provided ‘a helpful framework for multidimensional clinical reasoning’ (2) the CRF, and accompanying operational definitions, helped physiotherapists ‘elicit information, with ‘question prompts’ helpful in facilitating patient disclosure (3) ‘Utility’ - although the CRF was not formally used by the physiotherapists it provided a conceptual reasoning framework to work from with more challenging patients. Conclusion: The CRF was not designed to be used in isolation by clinicians without training. However, when used as a training adjunct it appears to be valued by physiotherapists to help develop their critical thinking and better characterise patients’ presentations in order to personalise care from a bio-psychosocial perspective.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102797
Pages (from-to)-
JournalMusculoskeletal Science and Practice
Volume66
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Clinical reasoning form
  • Low back pain
  • Psychologically informed practice
  • Training

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