Effectiveness of a standardized back school program for patients with chronic low back pain after implementation in routine rehabilitation care

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized, patient-oriented, biopsychosocial back school after implementation in inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation.MethodsA multi-center, quasi-experimental controlled study of patients with low back pain (n = 535) was conducted. Patients in the control group received the traditional back school before implementation of the new program (usual care); patients in the intervention group received the new standardized back school after implementation into routine care. Patients’ illness knowledge and conduct of back exercises (primary outcomes) and secondary self-management outcomes and treatment satisfaction were obtained at admission, discharge, and 6 and 12 months after rehabilitation.ResultsWe found a significant small between-group intervention effect on patients‘ illness knowledge in medium- to long term (6 months: η² = 0.015; 12 months: η² = 0.013). There were trends for effects on conduct of back exercises among men (6 and 12 months: η² = 0.008 both). Furthermore, significant small effects were observed for treatment satisfaction at discharge and physical activity after 6 months.ConclusionsThe standardized back school seems to be more effective in certain outcomes than a usual care program despite heterogeneous program implementation.Practice implicationsFurther dissemination within orthopedic rehabilitation may be encouraged to foster self-management outcomes.