(321) Physiotherapists’ Attitudes and Beliefs Towards Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Saudi Arabia

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is one of the most widespread conditions affecting the population indiscriminately across the world. It is a considerable health problem and the main causes of disability and pain. It is a complex, multifactorial disorder and one of the most controversial conditions for clinicians, patients, and policy makers. Physiotherapists’ (PTs) attitudes and beliefs towards CNSLBP still unknown in Saudi Arabia (SA). The aim of this study was to identify PTs attitudes and beliefs towards NSLBP in SA. A cross sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample. An online survey was distributed from April to September 2018. Only participants working as physiotherapists in SA whether in clinical or academic settings were included. Data were collected regarding demographics, beliefs and attitudes towards NSLBP using the short form of Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT). The short form of PABS-PT consisted of 19 items on a 6-point scale evaluating ‘biomedical’ and ‘biopsychosocial treatment orientation’ factors. Higher scores indicate a higher level of orientation. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS (v.24). A total of 299 PTs participated in this study. The majority of the participants were males (61.5%) and most of them had completed their bachelor's degree (54.5%). Most participants worked as a full time (79.9%) and more than half of them had experience less than 5 years (53.8%). The overall mean score for biomedical factor was 34.4 (SD 7.7) and overall mean score for biopsychosocial factor was 31.7 (SD 5.5). Overall mean score of both factors was mean 66.2 (SD 9.6). Among the 19 items of PABS-PT, the lowest three mean scores items were related to biopsychosocial orientation. Physiotherapists were found to have similar biomedical and biopsychosocial orientations in their attitudes and beliefs but both orientation scores were not high.