Association among disability risk, pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs and kinesiophobia among patients with chronic low back pain

Background: Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) is the most common cause of long-term disability in middle age individuals. This study investigated the association between disability risk, pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs and kinesiophobia in patients with CLBP. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients with CLBP. Disability risk was assessed using the STarT back screening tool. Pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs and kinesiophobia levels were assessed by Pain Catastophizing Scale, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, respectively. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, percentage and inferential statistics of Pearson Chi-square test of association. Result: Thirty patients with CLBP with mean (SD) age 54.7(13.6) years participated in the study. The results of the study revealed that low, medium and high disability risk for CLBP were 43.3%, 33.3% and 23.3%, respectively. A significant association was found between disability risk and pain catastrophising (χ2 = 6.909 p = 0.014), fear-avoidance beliefs (χ2 = 9.108 p = 0.04) and kinesiophobia (χ2 = 8.877 p = 0.006). Compared to those in low risk group, patients with medium and high disability risk had significantly higher levels of fear-avoidance beliefs (χ2 = 9.108 p = 0.04) and kinesiophobia (χ2 = 8.877 p = 0.006). Conclusion: There were significant associations between disability risk and pain, catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs, and kinesiophobia levels. This study provides additional information assessing the association among disability risk, pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs and kinesiophobia for the management of patients with LBP Ethics: Ethical approval was sought from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (Registration number: ERC/2019/12/13). Funding Acknowledgement: There was no funding received in relation to the study

Physiotherapists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Willingness to Care for Covid-19 Patients: a Nationwide Survey in Nigeria

Introduction: COVID-19 requires an all-inclusive task sharing/shifting approach by clinical professions in order to stem the tide of the pandemic. Physiotherapists have, therefore, potential for front line duties to COVID-19 patients as part of their traditional role in acute care for patients with respiratory complications. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and willingness of physiotherapists to care for patients with COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. Method: An electronic (WhatsApp) survey of 210 licenced physiotherapists was conducted from March 2020 to July 2020 using an adapted questionnaire from a previous validated tool. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The physiotherapists displayed a high level of awareness (99.0%) about COVID-19, and the social media (96.2%), especially WhatsApp (74.8%), was the main source of information on COVID-19. 28.6% of the respondents had a sufficient level of knowledge of COVID-19. The knowledge about COVID-19 was significantly influenced by educational qualifications (p = 0.00). Also, 77.1%, 74.8% and 87.1% of the respondents werewilling to provide care for patients with COVID-19, be part of front-line care team, and care for COVID-19 survivors, respectively. Conclusion: Nigerian physiotherapists displayed an appreciable level of knowledge of COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. The surveyed physiotherapists were also willing to provide care for COVID-19 patients and survivors, as well as to be part of the COVID-19 front-line care team for

Assessment of Nigerian physiotherapy students’ knowledge, attitudes and awareness of physiotherapy roles in the prevention and management of Covid-19: a nationwide online survey

This cross-sectional study assessed Nigerian Physiotherapy students’ knowledge, attitudes and awareness of the roles of physiotherapy in the prevention and management of COVID-19.  Four hundred (400) Nigerian physiotherapy students responded to the survey via an electronic (WhatsApp) questionnaire. The survey revealed a high degree of COVID-19 awareness (98.3%) with the social media (83.3%), especially WhatsApp (70.8%), indicated as the. main source of information. 52% of the respondents exhibited a good level of knowledge of the virus, as well as anti-COVID-19 precautions and hygiene. The level of knowledge correlated with the participants’ ages; the final year (class v) had the highest knowledge score (40). While Nigerian physiotherapy students demonstrate a high level of awareness with regard to the virus and its transmission, the level of knowledge relating to physiotherapy roles in COVID-19 appears to be low