Abstract
New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 48(2), 59-69. https://doi.org/10.15619/NZJP/48.2.02 Key Words: Low Back Pain, Physiotherapy, Stratified Care, Clinical Guidelines, Screening Tools INTRODUCTION Spinal disorders are the leading specific cause of health loss (as measured by disability adjusted life years) for those aged 15-64 years in New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2016). [...]a review of prospective studies investigating the prognosis of recent onset LBP reported that 65% of people were still experiencing LBP at their 12-month follow-up appointment, indicating that the prognosis is often not as favourable as suggested in clinical guidelines (Itz et al., 2013). [...]the traditional concept of LBP as discreet, unrelated episodes has been challenged, and LBP is increasingly considered a long-lasting condition with a variable course (Dunn et al., 2013). To date, no research has investigated the extent to which (and how) screening and stratification tools are used by physiotherapists in clinical practice for the assessment and management of people with LBP in New Zealand. [...]the aim of this study was to survey registered physiotherapists practicing in New Zealand who regularly treat people with LBP to investigate: 1. For the purposes of this study, we defined general LBP questionnaires/outcome measures, such as the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, as screening tools, because these tools can be used by clinicians to identify people at risk of chronicity through to slow recovery or poor outcomes.