Use of a goal setting intervention to increase adherence to low back pain rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial

Objective:To examine the effects of a goal setting intervention on self-efficacy, treatment efficacy, adherence and treatment outcome in patients undergoing low back pain rehabilitation.Design:A mixed-model 2 (time) × 3 (group) randomized controlled trial.Setting:A residential rehabilitation centre for military personnel.Subjects:UK military personnel volunteers (N = 48); mean age was 32.9 (SD 7.9) with a diagnosis of non-specific low back pain.Interventions:Subjects were randomly assigned to either a goal setting experimental group (Exp, n = 16), therapist-led exercise therapy group (C1, n = 16) or non-therapist-led exercise therapy group (C2, n = 16). Treatment duration for all groups was three weeks.Main measures:Self-efficacy, treatment efficacy and treatment outcome were recorded before and after the treatment period. Adherence was rated during regularly scheduled treatment sessions using the Sports Injury Rehabilitation Adherence Scale (SIRAS). The Biering-Sorensen test was used as the primary measu...