595: Physiotherapists� Barriers and Facilitators to Biopsychosocial Care for Low Back Pain

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Education

Background and Aims: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and in Singapore. The biopsychosocial (BPS) model provides a comprehensive framework for NSLBP management, yet translation into practice remains inconsistent, with limited evidence from Asian contexts.
Objective:
To explore how physiotherapists in Singapore understand and apply the BPS model in when managing individuals with NSLBP, and to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to its integration into practice.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using individual semi-structured interviews with ten physiotherapists working in public and private musculoskeletal settings in Singapore. A fictional NSLBP case vignette was used to elicit clinical reasoning. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.

Results: Participants demonstrated broad conceptual awareness of the BPS model and described efforts to apply it in clinical practice. Six overarching themes were identified: (1) conceptual understanding of the BPS model, (2) structural and systemic constraints, (3) patient beliefs and expectations, (4) communication skills and patient-centred strategies, (5) professional development and peer support, and (6) pragmatic integration of the BPS model. Singapore’s cultural and linguistic diversity posed unique challenges, while organisational support and mentorship were key enablers.

Conclusions: Physiotherapists in Singapore recognise the value of the BPS model but face systemic, professional, and patient-related barriers to full implementation. Strengthening education across the career span, fostering interprofessional collaboration, and addressing cultural communication challenges may support greater integration. These findings contribute locally relevant insights to the international discourse on BPS-informed NSLBP care.

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Perceptions of physiotherapists towards the biopsychosocial model in the management of low back pain: a systematic review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018;37:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2018.05.004

Presenting Author: Linus Tan
Submitting Author: Linus Tan

Senior Author: Clement C Yan

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Joon Khong Goh: Physiotherapy - National University Hospital, Singapore
• Joshua Wei Hao Seah: Physiotherapy - Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
• Clement C Yan: Phyisotherapy - Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore