Alhowimel Ahmed, Alodiabi Faris, Alamam Dalyah, Alotaibi Mazyad, Fritz Julie
Department of Health and Rehabilitation Science, Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 16278, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Sep 21;9(9):1242. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9091242.
To ensure the effective management of patients' pain, it is important that physiotherapists have a good understanding of the neuroscience behind pain. A major barrier to adequate pain management is that, for patients, there is limited access to clinicians who are knowledgeable about pain. This study examined the level of knowledge regarding pain neurophysiology among physiotherapists currently practicing in Saudi Arabia.
The study was a cross-sectional web-based survey that utilized the 12-item Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe levels of knowledge regarding pain neurophysiology and to examine differences in knowledge based on the characteristics of the participating physiotherapists (gender, educational level, experience, practice region, and country where their highest educational level was attained).
One hundred and eleven physiotherapists (58.6% male) from various regions and educational backgrounds participated in the study. Out of a maximum Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire score of 12, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) was 6.7 ± 2.2; 90% of physiotherapists scored 9 (75%) or less. None of the examined characteristics of the participants were associated with knowledge.
Physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia showed limited knowledge of the neurophysiology of pain; however, this was not related to the personal characteristics that were examined. The continuation of education in modern pain science is recommended for physiotherapists, especially those dealing with patients suffering from chronic pain.
The physiotherapists who took part in this study displayed limited knowledge of pain neuroscience; this limited knowledge might suggest the need for a more bio-anatomical approach to pain management. There is a need for tailored medical education to address pain neuroscience knowledge in current physiotherapist practitioners.
为确保对患者疼痛进行有效管理，物理治疗师深入了解疼痛背后的神经科学知识至关重要。充分进行疼痛管理的一个主要障碍是，患者能够接触到了解疼痛知识的临床医生的机会有限。本研究调查了沙特阿拉伯目前执业的物理治疗师对疼痛神经生理学的知识水平。
该研究是一项基于网络的横断面调查，使用了包含12个条目的修订版疼痛神经生理学问卷。描述性和推断性统计用于描述疼痛神经生理学的知识水平，并根据参与研究的物理治疗师的特征（性别、教育水平、经验、执业地区以及获得最高教育水平的国家）检查知识差异。
来自不同地区和教育背景的111名物理治疗师（58.6%为男性）参与了研究。修订版疼痛神经生理学问卷的最高分为12分，平均±标准差为6.7±2.2；90%的物理治疗师得分在9分（75%）及以下。参与者的所有检查特征均与知识无关。
沙特阿拉伯的物理治疗师对疼痛神经生理学的知识有限；然而，这与所检查的个人特征无关。建议为物理治疗师，尤其是那些治疗慢性疼痛患者的物理治疗师，继续开展现代疼痛科学教育。
参与本研究的物理治疗师对疼痛神经科学的知识有限；这种有限的知识可能表明需要采用更具生物解剖学的方法进行疼痛管理。需要开展有针对性的医学教育，以解决当前物理治疗师从业者的疼痛神经科学知识问题。
