Astrid K Wahl1, Gro Opseth2, Sandra Nolte3, Richard H Osborne4, Gustav Bjørke5, Anne Marit Mengshoel6. 1. Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.k.wahl@medisin.uio.no. 2. Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Hans & Olaf Fysioterapi AS, Oslo, Norway. 3. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Public Health Innovation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 4. Public Health Innovation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 5. Hans & Olaf Fysioterapi AS, Oslo, Norway. 6. Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between regular use of physiotherapy treatment, health locus of control and self-management competency in people with musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 507 patients between 18 and 70 years of age with musculoskeletal disorders who attended a physiotherapy clinic. The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) was used to assess self-management competency; the Health Locus of Control Scale (HLCS) was used to assess health locus of control. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Results showed that patients who attended physiotherapy on a regular basis had lower levels of internal control than those who did not. Furthermore, regular patients reported more health-directed activities and more emotional distress than patients not attending physiotherapy on a regular basis. Finally, internal health locus of control showed statistically significant associations with all heiQ domains, indicating that a stronger internal control is associated with higher levels of self-management competency. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that attending physiotherapy on a regular basis is related to self-management competency and internal health locus of control. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A treatment aim in primary care for people with long term conditions should include development of self-management capacity.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between regular use of physiotherapy treatment, health locus of control and self-management competency in people with musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 507 patients between 18 and 70 years of age with musculoskeletal disorders who attended a physiotherapy clinic. The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) was used to assess self-management competency; the Health Locus of Control Scale (HLCS) was used to assess health locus of control. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Results showed that patients who attended physiotherapy on a regular basis had lower levels of internal control than those who did not. Furthermore, regular patients reported more health-directed activities and more emotional distress than patients not attending physiotherapy on a regular basis. Finally, internal health locus of control showed statistically significant associations with all heiQ domains, indicating that a stronger internal control is associated with higher levels of self-management competency. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that attending physiotherapy on a regular basis is related to self-management competency and internal health locus of control. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A treatment aim in primary care for people with long term conditions should include development of self-management capacity.