Physical therapy clinical specialization and management of red and yellow flags in patients with low back pain in the United States

AbstractObjectivesPhysical therapists (PTs) may practice in direct access or act as primary care practitioners, which necessitate patients’ screening and management for red, orange and yellow flags. The objective of the project was to assess the American PT’s ability to manage red, orange and yellow flags in patients with low back pain (LBP), and to compare this ability among PTs with different qualifications.MethodsThe project was an electronic cross-sectional survey. The investigators contacted 2,861 PTs. Participants made clinical decisions for three vignettes: LBP with red flag for ectopic pregnancy, with orange flag for depression and with yellow flag for fear avoidance behaviour (FAB). The investigators used logistic regression to compare management of warning flags among PTs with distinct qualifications: orthopaedic clinical specialists (PTOs), fellows of the AAOMPT (PTFs), PTOs and PTFs (PTFOs), and PTs without clinical specialization (PTMSs).ResultsA total of 410 PTs completed all sections of the...