Implementing behavioural medicine in physiotherapy treatment. Part II: Adherence to treatment protocol

Abstract Objectives: In a controlled clinical trial, targeted and tailored treatment strategies, based on cognitive–behavioural treatment principles were investigated. The intervention was aimed at patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain in primary healthcare. A preliminary examination indicated low treatment integrity for the tailored treatment. Therefore, the aim in this study was to evaluate physiotherapists' treatment adherence to a treatment tailored to physical, cognitive and behavioural factors of importance for the performance of patients' prioritized activities. Explorative study, Part II. Materials and Methods: Treatment documents for 18 patients, treated by four specially trained physiotherapists, were utilized for assessment of treatment adherence. A treatment integrity measure was developed, tested and used for evaluation of adherence to the treatment protocol. Results: Physiotherapists' adherence to the treatment manual was low concerning treatment components and the overall sequencing of the treatment. Intrapersonal physical and cognitive factors, and situational variations tied to the performance of prioritized activities targeted in treatment, were rarely found or specified in treatment documents. Statements about functional and causal relationships between determinants for activity performance were not documented or unspecified. Conclusion: The physiotherapists' adherence to the treatment protocol was low despite the pre-intervention training programme and supervision during the intervention period.