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Patients’ views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial

Patients’ views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial
Patients’ views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial
Background. Lessons in the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription proved effective for managing low back pain in primary care in a clinical trial.

Objectives. To understand trial participants’ expectations and experiences of the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription.

Methods. A questionnaire assessing attitudes to the intervention, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, was completed at baseline and 3-month follow-up by 183 people assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique and 176 people assigned to exercise prescription. Semi-structured interviews to assess the beliefs contributing to attitudes to the intervention were carried out at baseline with 14 people assigned to the lessons in the Alexander Technique and 16 to exercise prescription, and at follow-up with 15 members of the baseline sample.

Results. Questionnaire responses indicated that attitudes to both interventions were positive at baseline but became more positive at follow-up only in those assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique. Thematic analysis of the interviews suggested that at follow-up many patients who had learned the Alexander Technique felt they could manage back pain better. Whereas many obstacles to exercising were reported, few barriers to learning the Alexander Technique were described, since it ‘made sense’, could be practiced while carrying out everyday activities or relaxing, and the teachers provided personal advice and support.

Conclusion. Using the Alexander Technique was viewed as effective by most patients. Acceptability may have been superior to exercise because of a convincing rationale and social support and a better perceived fit with the patient's particular symptoms and lifestyle.
attitude, complementary therapies, exercise, low back pain, patient acceptance of health care, qualitative research
0263-2136
198-204
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Dennison, Laura
15c399cb-9a81-4948-8906-21944c033c20
Coker, Rebecca
8f5291c4-64a1-402d-a518-8099a505ecb8
Webley, Fran
143f965b-866b-4455-89a5-d187f52e1cde
Middleton, Karen
50b8579a-ca47-4efa-a4b0-65bc0e8c7348
Barnett, Jane
f10c0f99-e2f8-42e6-b52a-4987568453db
Beattie, Angela
a681b4cd-1480-4b97-85d6-b003978c872d
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f
Smith, Peter W.F.
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Dennison, Laura
15c399cb-9a81-4948-8906-21944c033c20
Coker, Rebecca
8f5291c4-64a1-402d-a518-8099a505ecb8
Webley, Fran
143f965b-866b-4455-89a5-d187f52e1cde
Middleton, Karen
50b8579a-ca47-4efa-a4b0-65bc0e8c7348
Barnett, Jane
f10c0f99-e2f8-42e6-b52a-4987568453db
Beattie, Angela
a681b4cd-1480-4b97-85d6-b003978c872d
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f
Smith, Peter W.F.
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777

Yardley, Lucy, Dennison, Laura, Coker, Rebecca, Webley, Fran, Middleton, Karen, Barnett, Jane, Beattie, Angela, Evans, Maggie, Smith, Peter W.F. and Little, Paul (2009) Patients’ views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial. Family Practice, 27 (2), 198-204. (doi:10.1093/fampra/cmp093).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background. Lessons in the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription proved effective for managing low back pain in primary care in a clinical trial.

Objectives. To understand trial participants’ expectations and experiences of the Alexander Technique and exercise prescription.

Methods. A questionnaire assessing attitudes to the intervention, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, was completed at baseline and 3-month follow-up by 183 people assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique and 176 people assigned to exercise prescription. Semi-structured interviews to assess the beliefs contributing to attitudes to the intervention were carried out at baseline with 14 people assigned to the lessons in the Alexander Technique and 16 to exercise prescription, and at follow-up with 15 members of the baseline sample.

Results. Questionnaire responses indicated that attitudes to both interventions were positive at baseline but became more positive at follow-up only in those assigned to lessons in the Alexander Technique. Thematic analysis of the interviews suggested that at follow-up many patients who had learned the Alexander Technique felt they could manage back pain better. Whereas many obstacles to exercising were reported, few barriers to learning the Alexander Technique were described, since it ‘made sense’, could be practiced while carrying out everyday activities or relaxing, and the teachers provided personal advice and support.

Conclusion. Using the Alexander Technique was viewed as effective by most patients. Acceptability may have been superior to exercise because of a convincing rationale and social support and a better perceived fit with the patient's particular symptoms and lifestyle.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 23 December 2009
Published date: 23 December 2009
Keywords: attitude, complementary therapies, exercise, low back pain, patient acceptance of health care, qualitative research
Organisations: Community Clinical Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 73622
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73622
ISSN: 0263-2136
PURE UUID: 49379e19-7aa7-49ce-8766-779ad2792446
ORCID for Lucy Yardley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3853-883X
ORCID for Laura Dennison: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0122-6610
ORCID for Peter W.F. Smith: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4423-5410

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:52

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Contributors

Author: Lucy Yardley ORCID iD
Author: Laura Dennison ORCID iD
Author: Rebecca Coker
Author: Fran Webley
Author: Karen Middleton
Author: Jane Barnett
Author: Angela Beattie
Author: Maggie Evans
Author: Paul Little

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