Self-Management of Persistent Low Back Pain v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Qualitative Exploration of Persistent Low Back Pain Self-Management: Physiotherapy Patient Experiences
IRAS ID
247890
Contact name
Mary Cooke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 12 months, 0 days
Research summary
Low back pain is the most common cause of disability, with eight out of ten people experiencing symptoms over their life time. For some people low back pain can persist, leading to long term disability, loss of income and emotional distress. Current guidelines support the use of self-management strategies for people with persistent low back pain. In keeping with these guidelines, physiotherapists use interventions such as, education, exercises, back classes, behavioural therapies. As yet, physiotherapy trials to improve self-management have had varying success. One concerning challenge is how to improve a person’s self-management so that their quality of life is enhanced.
This study seeks a greater understanding of what it is like to self-manage persistent low back pain. Participants with three or more months of low back pain will be recruited from the physiotherapy department at North Tyneside general hospital.
Participants will attend a face to face semi-structured interview with the lead researcher. Interviews will take place in a private room at North Tyneside General Hospital. An audio recorder will be used and the digital file later transcribed word for word. During the interview, notes will be taken by the interviewer as a memo.
The interviews will be analysed using the Grounded Theory. This is a way of comparing different people’s perspectives to reach a theory about a topic of interest. Participants will be recruited consecutively until no further new perspectives are discovered. This is anticipated to occur by 15 interviews. The study will last for 10 months.
It is hoped that a greater understanding of self-management will help to inform future physiotherapy interventions.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0269
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion