Chronic low back pain: osteopaths' attitudes and management

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the chief complaints seen by osteopaths. The management and care that practitioners provide for CLBP patients as well as their attitudes towards then are crucial in the overall well-being of the patient. Little is known about osteopaths' management of CLBP and their attitudes towards such patients. Management of CLBP by osteopaths does not appropriately consider psychosocial aspects of pain. Osteopaths in this study did not believe that they had "negative feelings" towards their CLBP patients. There is insufficient evidence to conclude negative attitudes towards CLBP patients. However there is some indication a small number of osteopaths may have potentially undesirable attitudes towards CLBP patients. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program