Clinical Research Directory

Neck and Low Back Pain in Physical Therapy Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of neck and low back pain among physical therapy students enrolled at The University of the West Indies, Mona. It also aims to assess students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding spine health and to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-week standardised spine-specific exercise programme in reducing musculoskeletal pain and improving functional status among those reporting symptoms. The study will be conducted in two phases, beginning with a descriptive cross-sectional assessment of prevalence, followed by a prospective randomised controlled trial in which students experiencing neck and/or low back pain will be allocated to either a spine-specific exercise intervention group or a non-spine-specific exercise control group for comparative analysis of outcomes.

Physiotherapy and Disaster

The purpose of this observational study is to examine the relationships between disaster response self-efficacy, psychological preparedness for disaster threats, and interdisciplinary readiness levels among undergraduate Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation students. The study will be conducted among students studying in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation departments of Pamukkale University, İnönü University, and Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University in Turkey. Participants will complete online surveys regarding disaster preparedness while continuing their routine education as part of their active learning. No clinical practice, medical intervention, or experimental procedures will be conducted in the study. The primary research question of this study is: Is there a significant relationship between the disaster response self-efficacy, psychological preparedness, and interdisciplinary readiness levels of physiotherapy students? Data will be collected voluntarily via Google Form; students can withdraw from the study at any time. Personal information will not be collected, and all data will be analyzed solely for scientific purposes, in accordance with confidentiality principles. While no medical or physical benefits are expected for participants, the findings are expected to contribute to the development of physiotherapy training curricula for disaster preparedness and crisis management. The study will commence in December 2025 following ethics committee approval, and the entire process, including data collection, is planned to take approximately six months.

Understanding How Physiotherapists in Türkiye Follow Low Back Pain Guidelines and What Affects Their Use of Research in Practice

The goal of this observational study is to understand how physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Türkiye manage low back pain and how closely they follow clinical practice guidelines and use research evidence. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do physiotherapists follow evidence-based guidelines when treating low back pain? * What factors influence their treatment choices and use of research in practice? Participants will: * Complete a short online survey (about 5-10 minutes) * Answer questions about their education, clinical decisions, and treatment approaches for low back pain