This study aims is to evaluate the E-SOLAS training programme in a group of novice physiotherapists (PTs) to explore its acceptability, appropriateness and effectiveness on relevant outcomes for effective training in behaviour change skills related to self-management (SM) for chronic musculoskeletal pain. The training of practitioners and undergraduate students of the health professions in behaviour change skills is a national priority for the Health Service Executive and Ireland’s higher education institutions. An interactive E-learning training programme (E-SOLAS) has been developed to support the delivery of the Self-management of Osteoarthritis and Low back pain through Activity and Skills (SOLAS) intervention by physiotherapists in primary care in Ireland (an evidence-supported behaviour change group treatment approach) to support client SM. E-SOLAS has been delivered to 13 experienced PT’s from primary care clinics across Ireland, and the results of its evaluation showed E-SOLAS was acceptable and effective for a range of outcomes (satisfaction, engagement, confidence, knowledge and skills in delivering SOLAS using behaviour change strategies). E-SOLAS is an accessible, sustainable and interactive form of training healthcare practitioners and has potential as an educational tool for novice health professionals (i.e. final year and recently graduated students) in behaviour change skills related to SM. This project will recruit a sample of convenience of 15 novice physiotherapists from the BSc Physiotherapy programme in UCD, provide them with E-SOLAS training, evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness and effectiveness of training and compare training outcomes to experienced PTs to inform future integration of E-SOLAS into the undergraduate curricula of health professionals.
