Communication style and exercise compliance in physiotherapy (CONNECT). A cluster randomized controlled trial to test a theory-based intervention to increase chronic low back pain patients’ adherence to physiotherapists’ recommendations: study rationale, design, and methods

Table 3 Outcome assessment timeline

Variable	Pre-randomization	Baseline Pre-treatment	Baseline Post-treatment	Week1	Week4	Week12	Week24
Demographics		✓
Primary outcome measures
Adherence
Clinic-based adherence to physiotherapist’s recommendations			#	#	#	#
General adherence to physiotherapist‘s recommendations				✓	✓	✓	✓
Specific adherence to back exercises and physical activity advice				✓	✓	✓	✓
Physical Activity
Self-reported physical activity		✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
Low Back Pain Symptoms
Pain Intensity		✓			✓	✓	✓
Bothersomeness		✓			✓	✓	✓
Pain-related Function
Disability		✓			✓	✓	✓
Patient specific function		✓			✓	✓	✓
Pain-related Well Being
Quality of life		✓			✓	✓	✓
Secondary Outcomes
Autonomy support from physiotherapist			*✓		✓
Fear avoidance beliefs regarding physical activity		✓			✓	✓	✓
Perceived competence regarding ability to follow physiotherapist’s recommendations		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Autonomous and controlled motivation to following physiotherapist’s recommendations		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Objectively measured physical activity				✓	✓	✓	✓
Perception of recovery		✓			✓	✓	✓
Moderating Variables
Expectation of treatment	*		✓
Patient depression		✓
Physiotherapist’s general causality orientations	*
Physiotherapist’s autonomous and controlled motivation for participation in training.	*

Note: ✓ = patient rated assessment. * = physiotherapist rated assessment. # = physiotherapist rating of patient behavior following each treatment session (most likely to occur during first 12 weeks following initial session).