Facilitators and barriers in the implementation of a fall prevention program based on physical activity for elderly people living in the community: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is recognized as beneficial for older individuals in preventing falls. Achieving high adherence to exercise programs among the elderly poses challenges for administrations and healthcare systems. This study explored the facilitators and barriers perceived by both the participants and nurse trainers involved in an exercise program aimed at preventing falls in primary healthcare. METHODS: Sixteen semi-structured interviews with elderly people who had participated in the Otago Exercise Program and a focus group of nurse trainers of this program were conducted between October 2018 and September 2019 in primary health care centers in Lleida, Spain. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with Atlas.ti 8 software. RESULTS: Analysis revealed five overarching categories and 17 subcategories. Key facilitators included personal motivation, the perceived benefits of exercise, and the supportive role of nurse trainers. Primary barriers encompassed factors such as the excessive duration of the program, not considering personal preferences for individual or group participation, and differences in physical condition among group participants. CONCLUSIONS: To increase participation and adherence to exercise programs, it is necessary to consider the important role of the nursing professionals that recommend program enrolment and the participants' personal motivations. The program with group sessions is a model that is easy to integrate into Primary Healthcare centers, which must always take into account the preferences and physical conditions of the participants.

Searching molecular biomarkers correlating with BSID-III at 24 months in infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

An early prediction of outcomes of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NE) is of key importance in reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity. The objectives were (i) to analyze the characteristics of miRNA expression and metabolic patterns of neonates with NE and (ii) to assess their predictive performance for neurodevelopmental outcomes. Plasma samples from moderate/severe NE patients (N = 92) of the HYPOTOP study were collected before, during, and after therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and compared to a control group (healthy term infants). The expression of miRNAs and concentrations of metabolites (hypoxia-related and energy, steroid, and tryptophan metabolisms) were analyzed. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated at 24 months postnatal age using Bayley Scales of Infant Development, ed. III, BSID-III. Differences in miRNA and metabolic profiles were found between NE vs. control infants, abnormal (i.e., mildly and moderately abnormal and severe) vs. normal, and severe vs. non-severe (i.e., normal and mildly and moderately abnormal) BSID-III. 4-Androstene-3,17-dione, testosterone, betaine, xanthine, and lactate were suitable for BSID-III outcome prediction (receiver operating characteristic areas under the curve (AUCs) ≥ 0.6), as well as 68 miRNAs (AUCs of 0.5-0.9). Significant partial correlations of xanthine and betaine levels and the expression of several miRNAs with BSID-III sub-scales were found. Conclusion: We have identified metabolites/miRNAs that might be useful to support the prediction of middle-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of NE. What is known and what is new: • The early prediction of outcomes of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NE) is of key importance in reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity. • Alterations of the metabolome and miRNAs had been observed in NE. • We performed miRNA sequencing and quantified selected metabolites (i.e., lactate, pyruvate, ketone bodies, Krebs cycle intermediates, tryptophan pathway, hypoxia-related metabolites, and steroids) by GC- and LC-MS. • Specific miRNAs and metabolites that allow prediction of middle-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of newborns with NE undergoing hypothermia treatment were identified.

Interleukin-16 is increased in obesity and alters adipogenesis and inflammation in vitro.

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic condition associated with low-grade inflammation mainly due to immune cell infiltration of white adipose tissue (WAT). WAT is distributed into two main depots: subcutaneous WAT (sWAT) and visceral WAT (vWAT), each with different biochemical features and metabolic roles. Proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-16 are secreted by both adipocytes and infiltrated immune cells to upregulate inflammation. IL-16 has been widely studied in the peripheral proinflammatory immune response; however, little is known about its role in adipocytes in the context of obesity. Aim & Methods: We aimed to study the levels of IL-16 in WAT derived from sWAT and vWAT depots of humans with obesity and the role of this cytokine in palmitate-exposed 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results: The results demonstrated that IL-16 expression was higher in vWAT compared with sWAT in individuals with obesity. In addition, IL-16 serum levels were higher in patients with obesity compared with normal-weight individuals, increased at 6 months after bariatric surgery, and at 12 months after surgery decreased to levels similar to before the intervention. Our in vitro models showed that IL-16 could modulate markers of adipogenesis (Pref1), lipid metabolism (Plin1, Cd36, and Glut4), fibrosis (Hif1a, Col4a, Col6a, and Vegf), and inflammatory signaling (IL6) during adipogenesis and in mature adipocytes. In addition, lipid accumulation and glycerol release assays suggested lipolysis alteration. Discussion: Our results suggest a potential role of IL-16 in adipogenesis, lipid and glucose homeostasis, fibrosis, and inflammation in an obesity context.

Tunability of Hybrid Silica Xerogels: Surface Chemistry and Porous Texture Based on the Aromatic Precursor.

The interest in new materials with specific properties has increased because they are essential for the environmental and technological needs of our society. Among them, silica hybrid xerogels have emerged as promising candidates due to their simple preparation and tunability: when they are synthesised, depending on the organic precursor and its concentration, their properties can be modulated, and thus, it is possible to prepare materials with à la carte porosity and surface chemistry. This research aims to design two new series of silica hybrid xerogels by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with triethoxy(p-tolyl)silane (MPhTEOS) or 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (Ph(TEOS)2 and to determine their chemical and textural properties based on a variety of characterisation techniques (FT-IR, 29Si NMR, X-ray diffraction and N2, CO2 and water vapour adsorption, among others). The information gathered from these techniques reveals that depending on the organic precursor and its molar percentage, materials with different porosity, hydrophilicity and local order are obtained, evidencing the easy modulation of their properties. The ultimate goal of this study is to prepare materials suitable for a variety of applications, such as adsorbents for pollutants, catalysts, films for solar cells or coatings for optic fibre sensors.

New diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children during the COVID-19 pandemic Regional multicenter study in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to determine whether during the year 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus in children compared to the previous 2 years. It is also to find out if lockdowns and the difficulty providing face-to-face care in the health system have led to children showing more severe symptoms at the time of diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational multicenter study of the province of Tarragona where data is collected from new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in patients under the age of 15 during the year 2020 and compared with years 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: The number of new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes during 2020 was 37 cases compared to 2019 and 2018 which was 23 and 29 respectively. The median age at onset was 9 years, 54% males. There was an increase in new diagnoses in the range of 10 to14-year-olds, with a decrease in the range of 0-4 year-olds. In 2020, the incidence in the group of patients with families from the Maghreb area rose from 52.2 cases per 100,000 population/year (c/105 p-y) in 2019 to 135.8 in 2020. Compared to the previous year, 2020 showed a significant decrease of ketoacidosis at the onset. None of the patients was diagnosed with COVID-19 during admission. CONCLUSION: During the year 2020 concurring with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the number of new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in pediatrics. Contrary to expectations, the presentation did not worsen by decreasing the proportions of ketoacidosis at onset. This data would suggest that, although attendance in the different health facilities dropped drastically during the year 2020 at the expense of virtual consultations, health systems and families were able to detect the symptoms of the disease early.

Prevalence of falls in noninstitutionalized people aged 65-80 and associations with sex and functional tests: A multicenter observational study.

Falls have a considerable impact on the functional prognosis of older adults. The main focus of this multicenter, retrospective, observational study was to examine the prevalence of falls in Spanish people aged 65-80 years still living at home. The secondary aims included examining the overall sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with a history of falls and then stratifying these findings by sex. We also aimed to determine the differences between sexes with regard to the history and consequences of falls and to evaluate associations between fall history and functional performance tests. The 747 older adults had all participated in the otago exercise program, which is a progressive home program of strength, balance, and endurance exercises. They were recruited by nurses in 21 primary care centers in 10 Spanish provinces between September 2017 to December 2018. The participants' mean age was 72.2 (SD: 4.3) years, and 67% were women. We recorded sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional performance test results, and any falls and/or injuries in the last 12 months. We found that 32% had fallen, 36% of those had fallen more than once, and 48% had sustained injuries when they fell. The bivariate analysis showed that women had more than twice the odds of falling than men and that living alone and being obese or overweight increased the odds of a fall, although living alone was not associated with falls in the multivariable analysis. Our results could guide the development of risk-specific fall prevention programs to prevent disabilities in older people.

Use of a gamified website to increase pain neurophysiology knowledge and improve satisfaction and motivation among students studying for a degree in physiotherapy: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The scientific evidence highlights the difficulties that healthcare professionals experience when managing patients with chronic pain. One of the causes of this difficulty could be related to the acquired training and the lack of knowledge about the neurophysiology of pain. In the present study, we assessed the effectiveness of a gamified web platform in acquiring knowledge about pain neurophysiology and determining the satisfaction and motivation of students of the Degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Lleida. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out with a sample of 60 students who had access to a gamified web platform that included notes, videos, and clinical cases prepared by the teaching staff and was based on a previous study that included patients and healthcare professionals. RESULTS: The results show that after the intervention, there was a statistically significant increase in knowledge about the neurophysiology of pain, and the effect size was in the desired area of ​​effect. Likewise, many students considered that their motivation had increased as a result of the methodology used in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the use of this methodology to promote knowledge about the neurophysiology of pain while improving students' motivation.

[New diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional multicenter study in Spain]. / Nuevos diagnósticos de diabetes mellitus tipo 1 en niños durante la pandemia COVID-19. Estudio multicéntrico regional en España.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine whether during the year 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus in children compared to the previous 2 years. It is also to find out if lockdowns and the difficulty providing face-to-face care in the health system have led to children showing more severe symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Material and methods: Retrospective observational multicenter study of the province of Tarragona where data is collected from new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in patients under the age of 15 during the year 2020 and compared with years 2018 and 2019. Results: The number of new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes during 2020 was 37 cases compared to 2019 and 2018 which was 23 and 29 respectively. The median age at onset was 9 years, 54% males. There was an increase in new diagnoses in the range of 10 to14-year-olds, with a decrease in the range of 0 to 4 year-olds. In 2020, the incidence in the group of patients with families from the Maghreb area rose from 52.2 cases per 100,000 population/year (c/105 p-y) in 2019 to 135.8 in 2020. Compared to the previous year, 2020 showed a significant decrease of ketoacidosis at the onset. None of the patients was diagnosed with COVID-19 during admission. Conclusion: During the year 2020 concurring with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the number of new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes mellitus in pediatrics. Contrary to expectations, the presentation did not worsen by decreasing the proportions of ketoacidosis at onset. This data would suggest that, although attendance in the different health facilities dropped drastically during the year 2020 at the expense of virtual consultations, health systems and families were able to detect the symptoms of the disease early.

Misbeliefs about non-specific low back pain and attitudes towards treatment by primary care providers in Spain: a qualitative study.

AIM: To identify misbeliefs about the origin and meaning of non-specific chronic low back pain and to examine attitudes towards treatment by primary health care providers. DESIGN: Generic qualitative study. METHODS: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted between October and November 2016 with physicians and nurses from primary health care centres in Lleida. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis via Atlas.ti-8 software. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: i. beliefs about the origin and meaning of chronic low back pain, ii. psychosocial aspects of pain modulators, iii. Therapeutic exercise as a treatment for chronic low back pain, iv. biomedical attitudes of primary health care providers, and v. difficulties in the clinical approach to chronic low back pain. CONCLUSION: Primary health care providers have a unifactorial view of chronic low back pain and base their approach on the biomedical model. Professionals attribute chronic low back pain to structural alterations in the lumbar spine while psychosocial factors are only recognized as pain modulators. For professionals, therapeutic exercise represents a possible solution to chronic low back pain; however, they still do not prescribe it and continue to educate on postural hygiene and recommend limiting physical and/or occupational activities, as opposed to clinical practice guidelines. These findings suggest that to improve the adherence of primary health care providers to the biopsychosocial model, it may be necessary first to modify their misbeliefs about non-specific chronic low back pain by increasing their knowledge on pain neurophysiology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02962817 . Date of registration: 11/11/2016.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) in patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT-i in patients with fibromyalgia in comparison with other non-pharmacological treatments. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of CBT-i in adults with fibromyalgia, published in English or Spanish, were eligible. Electronic searches were performed using PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, WebOfKnowledge and Psicodoc databases in March 2021. The main outcome measures were sleep efficiency and sleep quality. Secondary outcomes included pain, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Of 226 studies reviewed, five were included in the meta-analysis. CBT-i compared with non-pharmacological treatments showed no significant improvements in sleep efficiency (p = 0.05; standardized mean difference (SMD) [95% CI] 0.31 [-0.00 to 0.61]). CBT-i showed significant improvements in sleep quality (p = 0.009; SMD [95% CI] - 0.53 [-0.93 to -0.13]), pain (p = 0.002; SMD [95% CI] - 0.41 [-0.67 to -0.16]), anxiety (p = 0.001; SMD [95% CI] - 0.46 [-0.74 to 0.18]) and depression (p = 0.02; SMD [95% CI] - 0.33 [-0.61 to -0.05]), compared to non-pharmacological treatments. Effect sizes ranged from small to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: CBT-i was associated with a significant improvement in sleep quality, pain, anxiety, and depression, although these results are retrieved from very few studies with only very low to low quality evidence. Trial registration: The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (Record ID = CRD42016030161).IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONCBT-i has been proven to improve sleep quality, pain, anxiety and depression, although with small effect sizes.Implementing hybrid CBT for pain and sleep or combining CBT and mindfulness may improve symptoms in people diagnosed with FM.This meta-analysis results highlight the need to enhance sleep management skills among people suffering from this health condition.

Patients' and primary healthcare professionals' perceptions regarding chronic low back pain and its management in Spain: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore and compare the perceptions of patients and primary healthcare professionals regarding the management of chronic low back pain. METHODS: Qualitative study using 26 semi-structured individual interviews, and one discussion group, carried out in primary care in Lleida, Spain. RESULTS: Patients and primary healthcare professionals both had assumptions pertaining to: (1) the diagnosis and meaning of chronic low back pain, (2) expectations regarding treatment for pain reduction, and (3) communication between primary healthcare professionals and patients with chronic low back pain. Results suggest a mutual dissatisfaction with the diagnosis of chronic low back pain and a lack of understanding between primary healthcare professionals and patients. Some contradictions between them were also noted: the patients wanted quick solutions to reduce their pain, but the primary healthcare professionals required an accurate etiology to prescribe treatment, and the patients did not always follow the primary healthcare professionals' recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosing and treating chronic low back pain is compromised due to differing expectations and the communication barriers that exist between healthcare professionals and their patients. Primary healthcare professionals should be aware of the power of their explanations and recommendations to patients.Implications for RehabilitationPrimary healthcare professionals should negotiate treatments with patients and adapt them to their individual needs, according to a Patient-Centered approach and the biopsychosocial model of pain.Primary healthcare professionals should explain to patients the underlying mechanisms and multifactorial nature of chronic low back pain.Primary healthcare professional-patient communication needs to be improved to help patients to better understand their chronic condition.The healthcare professionals in Spain should be more trained into the (bio)psychosocial model of long-term pain, stop searching for non-evident pathologies and change their biomedical beliefs.

Improving risk assessment and prevention of pressure injuries during the implementation of a best practice clinical guideline. / Mejora de la valoración del riesgo y la prevención de las lesiones por presión durante la implantación de una Guía de buenas prácticas clínicas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the indicators of quality of care in pressure injuries (PI) before and after 6 months of the implementation of the Good Clinical Practice Guideline of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario in the geriatric unit of the Hospital Universitari Santa Maria de Lleida. METHOD: Longitudinal descriptive observational study throughout the implementation of the Good Clinical Practice Guideline (GCP) "Risk Assessment and Pressure Injury Prevention" carried out by the Ontario Nurses' Professional Association. The main variables - incidence and category of nosocomial pressure injuries, risk assessment of PI during the first 24hours of admission and risk level according to the EMINA scale, continuous assessment according to the risk of PI and special surface for pressure management recorded in the care plan - were extracted from the electronic medical records for subsequent descriptive analysis and hypothesis contrasting for comparison of proportions. RESULTS: A total of 154 subjects were included, most of them being women (57%), average age of 86 years and an average stay of admission of 8 days. With the implementation of the guide it was possible to improve, not always with statistical significance, the quality indicators: the incidence of PI decreased by 14.54%, risk assessments of PI 24hours after admission increased by 2.90%, while periodic risk assessments increased by 280.35%, recording 48.19% compared to 12.67% for the baseline situation. In addition, the recording of special surfaces in patients at risk of PI also increased by 13.33%. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the RNAO GCP improved the results related to the assessment and prevention of PI, with a positive impact on the quality of care indicators.

[Effect of adding fortifiers and protein supplements on the osmolality of donated maternal milk]. / Efecto de la adición de fortificantes y de módulo de proteínas en la osmolalidad de la leche materna donada.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The fortification of maternal milk (MM) is a standard practice in order to achieve the requirements needed for the growth and development of the premature newborn. However, its osmolality could increase. According to the American Paediatrics Academy, it is recommended not to exceed 450 mOsm/kg (approximately 400 mOsm/L) in the diet of the infant, even though the safety limit is estimated to be between 400 and 600 mOsm/kg. The aim of this study is to determine the osmolality of thawed and fortified donated MM (DMM). METHOD: An analysis was performed on DMM of 6 healthy mothers, without fortifying, and with 4 levels of fortification. Measurement of the samples was carried out in triplicate at 0, 4, 9, and 24hours after their preparation. They were stored refrigerated (2-8°C) between measurements. The study groups were: (A) Non-fortified DMM; (B) DMM with vitamins added; (C) with the addition of a fortifier; (D) with the addition of a low-dose protein formula; and (E) with the addition of a high-dose protein formula. The osmolality determinations were carried out using a freezing-point osmometer. The data analysis was performed using R software (v.3.5.1). RESULTS: A total of 30 samples were analysed with 360 measurements. The osmolality of the DMM at t=0h was 301 mOsm/kg (SD 5.2) and slightly increased with time to 308.11 mOsm/kg (SD 5.21) after 24hours (t=24h), being maintained within the safety limits. The addition of vitamins (Group B) did not significantly increase the osmolality. The addition of a fortifier (C) and a low dose (D) or high dose (E) protein formula produced an increase in the baseline osmolality that increased statistically significantly in time (P=.007), but with no differences between the C, D, and E types. There were differences between the osmolality at t=0 with the fortification according to the manufacturer's data sheet (339 mOsm/l) and the findings in our laboratory (432.33 mOsm/l). CONCLUSION: The osmolality values found in the thawed DMM samples were similar to those of other studies. The fortification of the DMM samples and their storage refrigerated at 2-8°C for 24h increased the osmolality, but keeping them within the safety limits.

A web-based therapeutic patient education intervention for pain and sleep for women with fibromyalgia: A sequential exploratory mixed-methods research protocol.

AIMS: To evaluate cognitive and behavioural factors related to pain and poor sleep quality in women diagnosed with fibromyalgia and to develop and test the effects of a web-based therapeutic education intervention on pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, chronic pain self-efficacy, sleep quality, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep and quality of life and health status related to fibromyalgia. DESIGN: The project will employ a sequential exploratory mixed methods research design. METHODS: For the qualitative phase, a theoretical sample living in the community will be recruited to participate in personal, semi-structured interviews. For the quantitative phase, a sample of adult women with fibromyalgia will be recruited from secondary care centres and randomly allocated an intervention or a control group. The study protocol was approved in 2019. DISCUSSION: Fibromyalgia is the most common central sensitivity syndrome and one of the principal worldwide causes of chronic widespread pain among the adult population. Poor sleep quality is a highly prevalent and troublesome symptom for people with fibromyalgia. Psychosocial and behavioural factors have been shown to relate intimately with the symptom experiences of people with fibromyalgia; pain catastrophizing and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep can perpetuate those and other fibromyalgia symptoms. CONCLUSION: It is imperative to reflect people's actual symptom experiences to develop effective symptom management strategies. In the Internet era, this project's proposed web-based therapeutic education intervention could offer women with fibromyalgia a new avenue for treatment as part of standard fibromyalgia management programs in primary and secondary healthcare services. IMPACT: Pain and poor sleep quality are highly prevalent and troublesome symptoms for people with fibromyalgia. The web-based therapeutic education intervention proposed in this project could provide women with fibromyalgia a new avenue for treatment in primary and secondary healthcare services. Protocol registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03686410.

Inoculation with a terroir selected Debaryomyces hansenii strain changes physico-chemical characteristics of Iberian cured pork loin.

Debaryomyces hansenii Lr1, previously isolated from naturally fermented cured pork loin ("lomo embuchado"), was used to inoculate Iberian pork loin under four different conditions. In all cases, specifically inoculated D. hansenii yeasts grew on the surface of the product and affected its physico-chemical and sensory characteristics. Inoculated pork loin kept higher water activity and pH and possessed lower sodium content than control samples at the end of the 90 days ripening period. Moreover, inoculation with Lr1 yeast did not change the general profile of fatty acids but modified the levels of volatile and aroma compounds by decreasing aldehydes and increasing esters and alcohol compounds. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the different physico-chemical parameters that were determined showed a clear separation between the samples indicating that they were different. A tendency in consumers acceptance to prefer cured pork loin specifically inoculated with the higher amounts of yeasts used in this study was observed.

Intraperitoneal vancomycin in neonates during peritoneal dialysis: A case report.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Guidelines for prevention and treatment of peritonitis in paediatric patients recommend vancomycin. We present the clinical practice in neonates during peritoneal dialysis and evaluate dosage and serum levels of vancomycin. CASE SUMMARY: This case report describes a newborn with acute renal failure under continuous peritoneal dialysis therapy and intraperitoneal vancomycin. We report the treatment dosage and serum vancomycin levels. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: There is great variability in the recommended dose of vancomycin for continuous peritoneal dialysis and the available clinical experience. Further investigation of dosing in children particularly in newborns, especially in loading dose, is necessary.

The influence of an educational internet-based intervention in the beliefs and attitudes of primary care professionals on non-specific chronic low back pain: study protocol of a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Personal convictions in referral to pain cause misbeliefs in health professionals, which can influence patients who suffer from non-specific chronic low back pain. Likewise, health professionals' beliefs affect their advice and attitudes towards patients' treatment, becoming a possible cause of greater disability. The development of educational interventions based on the best scientific evidence in neurophysiology of pain could be a way to provide information and advice to primary care health professionals to change their cognition towards chronic non-specific low back pain. The use of Information and Communication Technologies allows the development of web sites, which might be one of the effective resources to modify misbeliefs and attitudes, in relation to the origin and meaning of non-specific chronic low back pain, of primary care professionals and that may modify their attitudes in patients' treatment. METHODS: The aim of this project is to identify misbeliefs and attitudes of primary care physicians and nurses about chronic non-specific low back pain to develop a web-based educational tool using different educational formats and gamification techniques. This study has a mixed-method sequential exploratory design. The participants are medical and nursing staff working in primary care centers in the city of Lleida, Spain. For the qualitative phase of this study, the authors will use personal semi-structured interviews. For the quantitative phase the authors will use an experimental study design. Subjects will be randomly allocated using a simple random sample technique. The intervention group will have access to the web site where they will find information related to non-specific chronic low back pain, based on the information obtained in the qualitative phase. The control group will have access to a video explaining the clinical practice guidelines on low back pain. DISCUSSION: This study has been designed to explore and modify the beliefs and attitudes about chronic low back pain of physicians and nurses working in primary care settings, using a web-based educational tool with different educational formats and gamification techniques. The aim of the educational intervention is to change their knowledge about the origin and meaning of pain, with the result of reducing their misbeliefs and attitudes of fear avoidance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02962817 . Date of registration: 11/09/2016.