The aim of this Ph.D project is to enhance the competence of physiotherapists in primary health care to provide adolescents with persistent pain with highly qualified, sustainable, and efficient care.

The project`s overall research question is:  

What characterizes primary health care physiotherapy for adolescents with persistent pain, and what impacts does this care have on these adolescents?

Background

Persistent pain is an increasing challenge among children and adolescents. It is estimated that 1 in 4 adolescents regularly take painkillers, a number that has steadily increased over the past decades. The most common symptoms include headaches, pain in neck and shoulders, back pain, and stomach pain, often accompanied by increased stress and reduced daily function.

Documentation of physiotherapy treatment for adolescents with persistent pain is insufficient. While physiotherapist follow-up care is a recommended treatment approach, the evidence supporting these measures is limited.