The Effects of an Educational Program on Beliefs and Relaxation Behaviors of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain Referred to Pain Clinics: An Experimental Study

Background: False beliefs and fear of movement are common among patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Objectives: The current study aimed at changing the relaxation behaviors (RB) of patients with chronic low back pain based on educational programs through the Theory of Reasoned Action. Methods: The current experimental study was conducted from May to Nov 2016 on patients with chronic low back pain referred to pain clinics in Yazd, Iran. Through random blocking of every two participants, two groups were formed; the intervention (N = 43) group received educational programs based on the theory of reasoned action plus physician visits, and the control group (N = 45) received just physician visits. Results: The mean age of intervention and control groups was 40.14 ± 6.8 and 38.33 ± 5.46 years, respectively. The mean score of RB in the intervention group improved from 4.58 ± 1.73 at baseline to 4.51 ± 1.69 and 3.02 ± 1.64 at three- and six-month follow-up times, while in the control group the changes were from 2.84 ± 1.62 at baseline to 3.49 ± 1.16 and 3.20 ± 1.42 at the same follow-up times; the changes were significant (P = 0.04). Conclusions: The educational programs of the current study could be recommended to change the beliefs of patients with chronic low back pain about the relaxation behaviors.