Effect of a self-determination theory - Based communication skills training program on physiotherapists' psychological support for their patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective To examine the effects of communication skills training on physiotherapists' supportive behavior during clinical practice. Design Randomized trial. Setting Hospital outpatient physiotherapy clinics. Participants Physiotherapists (N=24) and patients (N=24) with chronic low back pain. Interventions Two hospital clinics were randomly assigned to the intervention arm. Physiotherapists (n=12) received 8 hours of communication skills training focused on supporting patients' psychological needs. Physiotherapists (n=12) from 2 other hospital clinics formed a waitlist control arm. Main Outcome Measures Verbal communication between each physiotherapist and a patient was recorded on an audiotape, and independent, blinded raters used the Health Care Climate Questionnaire to assess physiotherapists' needs-supportive behavior (primary outcome). Results Independent raters' Health Care Climate Questionnaire scores favored the intervention arm (Cohen's d=2.27; P<.01). Conclusions Compared with controls, independent ratings demonstrated that physiotherapists who completed the Communication style and exercise compliance in physiotherapy training were found to provide greater support for patients' needs in a single assessed session. Long-term maintenance of this needs-supportive behavior should be examined.