Validation of a scale of GPs’ reassurance during LBP consultations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validation of a scale to measure GPs’ use of reassurance during low back pain consultations
IRAS ID
118558
Contact name
Nicola A Holt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Research summary
Reassurance is indicated in many guidelines for the management of low back pain (LBP) in primary care, but how to effectively reassure patients is poorly defined and researched. Coia & Morley (1998) suggest a distinction between cognitive (information-based) and affective (emotional) reassurance, and that patients may experience different outcomes depending on the type of reassurance they receive. We have developed a questionnaire to measure patients’ perceptions of reassurance during LBP consultations according to this distinction. The current study will obtain LBP patients’ responses to the questionnaire in order to assess whether it is reliable and accurately measures the process of reassurance during consultations with general practitioners (GPs). Patients will be recruited from GP surgeries in Surrey and Northampton, and will be asked to fill in the questionnaire along with some information about themselves, their LBP, and their overall experience of the consultation. Recruitment will last for 3-6 months in order to gain a large and representative sample of LBP patients. Statistical analysis will allow the researchers to see whether the questionnaire produces consistent results which accurately represent LBP patients’ perceptions of reassurance from GPs. The result will be a validated questionnaire, which can be used in future research to assess whether different types of reassurance do indeed lead to different outcomes for LBP patients.
Coia, P., Morley, S. Medical reassurance and patients’ responses. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1998, 45(5), 377-386.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0817
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion