Summary of main findings
low back pain
ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS
Overall, physical therapists were most willing to follow Choosing Wisely recommendations with more detail, and recommendations that provided alternatives to low-value care. While the qualification of the language used in recommendations did not affect physical therapists’ willingness to follow them, physical therapists were less willing to follow recommendations that were negatively framed. Physical therapists were most willing to follow recommendations that advised against imaging for non-specific low back pain and electrotherapy for low back pain. In the sub-group analysis, physical therapists working in the private sector were more willing to follow qualified recommendations compared to physical therapists working outside the private sector. Non-musculoskeletal physical therapists (vs. musculoskeletal physical therapists) were less willing to follow recommendations that advised against imaging for non-specific low back pain, electrotherapy for low back pain and manual therapy for adhesive capsulitis, and more willing to follow qualified (‘avoid’, ‘don't routinely’) recommendations.