83: Study Title: Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Among Physiotherapists: Findings from a PABS-PT Survey.

Topic: Basic Science
Subtopic: Non-specific to any diagnosis (including studies in healthy animals), Assessment and Measurement of Pain/Nociception

Background and Aims: Background
Physiotherapists’ pain-related attitudes and beliefs influence clinical reasoning, treatment decisions, patient education, and rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in musculoskeletal and chronic pain (Bishop et al., 2008; Darlow et al., 2012). The Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT) assesses biomedical and biopsychosocial orientations (Ostelo et al., 2003). Despite the growing emphasis on pain neuroscience education and biopsychosocial care, considerable variability persists, highlighting the need for standardized assessment to guide targeted education and professional development initiatives (Gatchel et al., 2007).

Aims
To assess pain-related attitudes and beliefs among practising physiotherapists using the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT).

Methods: Methodology
This cross-sectional quantitative study surveyed 51 MAHPC-registered practising physiotherapists using a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from government hospitals, private practices, and home-based services to assess pain-related attitudes, beliefs, and professional characteristics at a single time point.


Inclusion Criteria
-MAHPC Registered physiotherapists
-Currently engaged in clinical practice
-Provide Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria
-Physiotherapy students
-Non-clinical practitioners

Research Instrument
Data were collected using the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT). The PABS-PT is a validated self-report questionnaire designed to assess physiotherapists’ beliefs and orientations toward pain management.

Results: This study investigated pain attitudes and beliefs of 51 physiotherapists using the PABS-PT survey. Results showed 98% of the population had a biopsychosocial predominant orientation to pain management with mean biopsychosocial scores (M = 85.43, SD = 14.77) far exceeding biomedical scores (M = 51.18, SD = 6.16). The sample included mostly experienced clinicians with 54.9% having more than 10 years of practice, mostly in government hospital settings (84.3%). No significant differences in pain attitudes were found between the years of experience (p = .288-.330) or work settings (p = .256-.837).

Conclusions: Physiotherapists in this study predominantly endorse a biopsychosocial approach to pain management, reflecting a holistic understanding that integrates physical, psychological, and social factors. Pain-related attitudes were consistent across years of experience and work settings, suggesting that biopsychosocial principles are well-established in current physiotherapy practice. These findings highlight the ongoing shift toward patient-centred, evidence-based care. Future research should explore how these beliefs are applied in clinical practice and examine factors that may further support the integration of biopsychosocial approaches in physiotherapy.

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Presenting Author: Preeshaa Adithan
Submitting Author: Preeshaa Adithan

Senior Author: Siti Hajar

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No