Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 12, 3, 365–375 © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 365 Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKJEPJournal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice1356-1294Blackwell Publishing Ltd 200412 3365375Original ArticlePhysiotherapy management of low back painK. Stevenson et al. Correspondence Kay Stevenson Physiotherapy Department Hartshill Surgical and Orthopaedic Unit City General Hospital London Road Newcastle under Lyme Staffordshire UK E-mail: kay.stevenson@uhns.nhs.uk Keywords: clinical practice, evidence- based practice, low back pain, opinion leader, physiotherapist Accepted for publication: 11 October 2004 Does physiotherapy management of low back pain change as a result of an evidence-based educational programme? Kay Stevenson MPhil Grad Dip Phys SRP MCSP, 1,2 Martyn Lewis PhD BSc 3 and Elaine Hay MD FRCP 4,5 1 Consultant Physiotherapist, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, UK 2 Consultatnt Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy Studies, McKay Building, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, UK 3 Statistician, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, UK 4 Professor, Consultant Community Rheumatologist, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, UK 5 Professor, Consultant Community Rheumatologist, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, UK Abstract Rationale The concept of evidence-based medicine is important in provid- ing efficient health care. The process uses research findings as the basis for clinical decision making. Evidence-based practice helps optimize current health care and enables the practitioners to be suitably accountable for the interventions they provide. Little work has been undertaken to examine how allied health professionals change their clinical practice in light of the latest evidence. The use of opinion leaders to disseminate new evidence around the management of low back pain into practice has been proposed. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate if physiotherapists’ clinical management of patients with low back pain would change following an evidence-based education package, which utilized local opinion leaders and delivered the best evidence. Method Thirty musculoskeletal physiothera- pists from a Community Trust in North Staffordshire were cluster random- ized by location of work, to two groups. The intervention group received an evidence-based programme on the management of low back pain, including advice regarding increasing activity levels and return to normal activity and challenging patients’ fears and beliefs about their pain. The control group received a standard in-service training package on the management of common knee pathologies. The physiotherapists’ clinical management of patients with low back pain was measured prior to training and 6 months post training. Outcome measures were based on physiotherapists complet- ing ‘discharge summary’ questionnaires, which included information relat- ing to the use and importance of therapies for treating their low back pain patients. Results There were few significant differences in treatment options between the intervention and control groups post training. Whilst there was some indication that physiotherapists were already utilizing aspects of psychosocial management for patients with low back pain, there was little change in what physiotherapists perceived to be important to patient recovery and actual clinical practice following the intervention. Conclusions Psychosocial factors have been identified as an important fac- tor in the recovery of patients with low back pain. This project incorporated the latest evidence on the management of low back pain and utilized the