OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the medium-term impact of education workshops on low back pain (LBP) in the setting of a thermal spa on: fear-avoidance beliefs, disability, pain, and satisfaction.

METHODS:

Randomized prospective alternate-month design-type study including 360 individuals having thermal spa therapy for LBP: 188 in the intervention group (three standardized education workshops lasting 1 h 30 each and usual thermal therapy for 3 weeks), 172 in the control group (usual thermal therapy and non-standardized verbal information). The principal analysis criterion was the difference in the fear-avoidance beliefs (physical FABQ) score between baseline and 6 months after the therapy; secondary criteria were: evolution of disability (Quebec Scale) and pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), and satisfaction with the information received.

RESULTS:

There was a significant reduction in the physical FABQ score at 6 months (P<0.05), and this reduction was more marked in the intervention group (-5.8±0.7 vs. -2±0.72 points out of 24; P<0.0001). Disability and pain significantly decreased in both groups (P<0.05), with no difference between groups. These workshops also had a significant effect on satisfaction with the information received.

CONCLUSION:

Standardized education workshops have a beneficial impact on LBP and contribute to an improvement in the medical services provided during spa therapy by reducing the effect of fear-avoidance beliefs as well as relieving pain. Extending the use of such workshops could contribute to enhance the positive impact of spa therapy in the management of chronic disabling diseases.