ArticleThe South African journal of physiotherapy2017
Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on contributing factors among low back pain patients attending outpatient physiotherapy treatment in Malawi.
Article in The South African journal of physiotherapy, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- The impact of a brief online education intervention on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of qualified physiotherapists about chronic low back pain: Pre- and post-intervention survey.The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2026Article
- Knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical spondylosis in the general public.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Patients' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward degenerative lumbar spine disease: A cross-sectional study in Shanxi, China.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Conceptualization of pain in Croatian adults: a cross-sectional and psychometric study.Croatian medical journal · 2024Article
- Knowledge of Back Pain and Spinal Disorders Among the General Population in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.Cureus · 2024Article
- Understanding how patients' pain beliefs influence chronic low back pain management in Ghana: a grounded theory approach.BMJ open · 2022Article
- Prevalence and biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain in urban and rural communities in Western Africa: a population-based door-to-door survey in Benin.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2022Article
- Nonspecific chronic low back pain conditions and therapeutic practices in Burkina Faso.The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2022Article
- Knowledge and Attitude of Sciatica Pain and Treatment Methods among Adults in Saudi Arabia.Advances in orthopedics · 2022Article
- Biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain-related activity limitations in Burundi.The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2022Article
- Knowledge of Low Back Pain among Primary School Teachers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLow back pain (LBP) affects many people globally. Its aetiology is not clear. Patients lack knowledge of its contributing factors and have negative perception about their LBP. This study aimed to identify knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding the perceived contributing factors to LBP among patients attending physiotherapy outpatient departments in Malawi. This information can possibly facilitate planning of a LBP education programme in Malawi.
methodsA quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted, using a six-part self-administered questionnaire with questions on demographic information, participants' attitudes and beliefs regarding their LBP, knowledge about the course and causes of LBP, beliefs regarding nine contributing factors to LBP (identified in a Delphi study) and the sources of the participants' knowledge. Data were analysed descriptively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 19.0). A Chi-square test was used to determine any association between variables (alpha 0.05). All ethical procedures were strictly followed.
resultsMost participants (186, 91.2 %) did not manage to answer all six questions regarding knowledge correctly and were regarded as 'partially knowledgeable' about the course and causes of LBP. More than half (67%) portrayed negative attitudes and beliefs about LBP in general. The findings also showed a statistically significant relationship between knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (
conclusionThis study highlighted that many patients with LBP in Malawi are not adequately knowledgeable about LBP and hold negative attitudes and beliefs regarding their LBP. Therefore, LBP management programmes in Malawi should include education programmes aimed at empowering patients with knowledge regarding LBP, as well as changing their negative attitudes and beliefs about their pain. Patients' understanding of the cause and nature of their pain may enhance the achievement of treatment goals.
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