Can a professional development workshop with follow-up alter practitioner behaviour and outcomes for neck pain patients? A randomised controlled trial

•A CPD workshop with follow-up resulted in no changes to physiotherapist practice or confidence when compared to a workshop with no opportunity for follow-up.•No differences in patient outcomes were found with the addition of a follow-up session.•Further research is needed to evaluate outcomes following CPD.

BackgroundContinuing professional development (CPD) is a fundamental component of physiotherapy practice. Follow-up sessions provide opportunity for the refinement of skills developed during CPD workshops. However, it is necessary to identify if such opportunity translates to improved physiotherapist performance and patient outcomes.ObjectivesTo determine whether a traditional CPD workshop with a follow-up session with the educator is more likely to change physiotherapists' practice behaviour and patient outcomes than a traditional workshop with no opportunity for follow-up.DesignA single-blind, randomised controlled trial.MethodsParticipants were stratified and randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The control group participated in a two-day workshop dedicated towards the management of neck disorders. The intervention group completed the two-day workshop and attended a five-hour follow-up session one month later. Outcome measures included self-reported physiotherapist practice behaviour and confidence, as well as patient clinical outcomes using the Neck Disability Index.ResultsWhile all participants exhibited changes in confidence and practice behaviours, between-group differences were not significant for any response (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences between the groups in terms of patient outcomes (Neck Disability Index: F = 0.36, p = 0.56).ConclusionA single follow-up session to a traditional workshop is insufficient to significantly influence practice behaviours or patient outcomes.