Physiotherapy for low back pain in South Asian females
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Physiotherapy for low back pain with South Asian females: Patient expectations and provider perceptions.
IRAS ID
159464
Contact name
Mal Auton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Research summary
In an attempt to address the needs of patients from minority groups, local musculoskeletal (MSK) out-patient clinics provide physiotherapy services for an ethnically diverse population. This physiotherapy service provides assessment and treatment for a variety of MSK conditions however mechanical low back pain (MLBP), and lumbar nerve root pain (LNRP) were chosen as exemplars for this study as it accounts for a large percentage of a physiotherapists’ caseload. Treatment for these conditions aims to encompass the NICE guideline (CG88); Early management of non-specific persistent low back pain, and provide the most clinically and cost effective treatment.
Local musculoskeletal physiotherapy services address an important area in the treatment of MLBP/LNRP by providing education and self-management in the form of a Spinal Advice Session and a ‘back builder’ group which is a supervised exercise circuit specifically for people with back pain which runs once or twice a week for up to 6 sessions per patient.
A recent review of attendance at the spinal advice sessions and back builder groups indicated little or no representation of female patients from South Asian minority groups. The reasons for this are at present unknown but anecdotally it has been suggested that; the classes are mixed gender; and there is limited promotion of classes by physiotherapy services to this patient group. Therefore the aim of this study is to explore the expectations of physiotherapy provision for MLBP/LNRP of South Asian women in East Lancashire.
This study will use semi-structured interviews in focus groups of up to 10 adult females of South Asian origin. The interviews will be digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim by the interviewer.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1225
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion