Confidence, Knowledge, And Beliefs Of Physical Therapists Treating Runners With Chronic Pain

Pain is one of the primary reasons individuals seek care and physical therapy is a common intervention. Recent updates in pain science have changed understanding of chronic pain and emphasize the importance of transitioning from a biomedical to a psychosocial approach. PURPOSE: To investigate pain-related confidence, knowledge, and beliefs of physical therapists (PTs) when treating runners and the influence of pain science continuing education (PSCE). METHODS: A survey was distributed through social media, email, word of mouth, and the American Academy of Sport Physical Therapy to PTs treating runners. Participants were asked how many hours of PSCE they had completed then confidence was measured using a pain care confidence score (PCCS), knowledge was measured using the revised neurophysiology of pain questionnaire (rNPQ), and beliefs were measured using the pain attitudes and beliefs scale for physiotherapists (PABS-PT) with both a psychosocial (PS) and a biomedical (BM) score. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data then the responses were divided into 2 groups, those with fewer PSCE hours (20 or less) and those with more PSCE (21+). T-tests were used to examine any significant differences between the groups. RESULTS: There were 76 PTs that completed the survey with 36 completing 21+ hours of PSCE. Of the PTs that are currently treating runners, the majority reported 20-80% of the runners experience chronic pain. When asked if they felt prepared to treat runners with chronic pain, 72.5% of those with fewer hours of PSCE felt adequately prepared compared to 91.7% of those with more hours. The results showed a mean PCCS of 7.04 (SD = 2.04) and a mean rNPQ 82 (SD = 12) percent. There was significantly higher PCCS in those with more PSCE (M = 8.14, SD = 1.61) compared with those with less (M = 6.04, SD = 1.89), t(74) = -5.18, p < .001, but no difference in rNPQ between the 2 groups. When examining PABS-PT, the PTs in this study were more PS oriented, M = 3.65 (SD = .54), than BM oriented, M = 2.05 (SD = .59). There was a significant difference in BM orientation with those with more PSCE having lower scores (p = .05), but no differences in PS orientation. CONCLUSION: PTs treating runners may not feel adequately prepared for treating chronic pain but increased amounts of PSCE can improve confidence and change beliefs.