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  • Effectiveness of a physiotherapy self-management programme for adult patients with chronic non-specific low back pain in low- and middle-income countries: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Rehabilitation medicine
Protocol
Effectiveness of a physiotherapy self-management programme for adult patients with chronic non-specific low back pain in low- and middle-income countries: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
  1. Sergant Given Motha1,
  2. Niri Naidoo2,
  3. Maureen Moyo-Chilufya3,
  4. Alfred Musekiwa3,
  5. Kabelo Kgarosi3,
  6. Karien Mostert1
  1. 1Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
  2. 2Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
  3. 3School of Heath Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to Mr Sergant Given Motha; u98201612{at}tuks.co.za

Abstract

Introduction Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is among the most common musculoskeletal system conditions reported worldwide; however, few studies are available from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Self-management is a set of tasks performed by the patient aiming at managing their symptoms and interference in activities, mood and relationships due to pain. A physiotherapy-guided self-management programme (SMP) following a biopsychosocial approach has been reported as effective and affordable in the management of CNLBP in high-income countries. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the overall effectiveness of SMPs for adults with CNLBP in LMICs.

Methods and analysis In this systematic review, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines will be followed. A three-step search strategy will be used to search the electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus and CINAHL, Academic Search Complete and PEDro) for randomised controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of physiotherapy-guided self-management for CNLBP among adult participants in LMICs. The processes of screening search results for eligible studies, extracting data from included studies and appraising will be done independently by at least two review authors. Random effects meta-analysis will be used to synthesise results and heterogeneity will be assessed using the I2 test statistic and χ2 test.

Ethics and dissemination Ethics clearance was obtained for the broader PhD study on the development of a physiotherapy-guided SMP for adult people with CNLBP in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The results of the manuscript for this protocol will be published in peer-reviewed journals and also presented at conferences, symposia, and congresses.

PROSPERO registration number CRD42023399572.

  • sports medicine
  • public health
  • primary health care
  • pain management
  • musculoskeletal disorders
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073916

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    Footnotes

    • X @GivenSergant, @MaureenMoyo2

    • Contributors SGM, MM-C, AM and NN conceptualised the protocol. SGM wrote the first version of the protocol and acting as guarantor. MM-C and AM assisted with the refinement of the protocol methods and KK with the search strategy. KM and NN critically revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final version.

    • Funding A grant was obtained from the Ernest and Ethel Eriksen Trust (ITRUST 11110/05). The funders will not play any role in the review process. The authors will be solely responsible for all statements and reviews to be made.

    • Disclaimer All the statements and reviews to be made will be solely the responsibility of the author.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.