The correlation of trust as part of the therapeutic alliance in physical therapy and their relation to outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain

ABSTRACT

Background

Previous qualitative research has listed trust as a component of the therapeutic alliance in physical therapy.

Objective

Quantitatively correlate trust and therapeutic alliance in physical therapy care for patients with chronic low back pain. The secondary aim was to investigate the relation of trust and therapeutic alliance with outcomes over the course of treatment.

Methods

The Primary Care Assessment Survey was used to measure trust and the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised tool measured therapeutic alliance. The patient recorded these measures after the initial visit and at discharge. Self-report patient outcome measures for pain, function, and global rating of change were also measured at the same time points.

Results

A strong correlation (rs = 0.747 and rs = 0.801) was found between trust scores and therapeutic alliance measures post-initial visit and at discharge, respectively. In addition, there were moderate to strong correlations between trust and therapeutic alliance scores with the various improved outcome measures of pain, function, and global rating of change.

Conclusion

There appears to be a connection between trust and therapeutic alliance along with improved patient outcomes related to higher trust and therapeutic alliance scores in a cohort with chronic low back pain.

KEYWORDS:

• Trust
• therapeutic alliance
• chronic low back pain
• physical therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process

The authors have nothing to disclose, as no Generative AI or AI-assisted technology was used in the writing process.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the University of South Dakota, Department of Physical Therapy Internal Department Grant and the Iowa Physical Therapy Foundation Grant.