Defining individual educational, or learning, targets is part of the initial educational assessment in rehabilitation programs, but no data are available on how to achieve these goals.

We aimed to evaluate whether educational objectives established with the patient as part of a functional spine restoration program integrating self-care sessions were met after the program and associated therapy outcomes.

This retrospective study involved 104 patients with chronic low-back pain who participated in a self-care rehabilitation program between 2008 and 2012. The program included both physical and educational approaches to dealing with the condition. The main evaluation criterion was achieving the educational objectives established with the patient at 6 months. Secondary criteria were a return to work, pain intensity and impact on function, satisfaction with the program and implementation of physical activity and self-rehabilitation at 6 months.

At 6 months, 55% of the established educational objectives were fully achieved and satisfaction was close to 90%. Significantly, more patients were involved in a physical activity at 6 and 12 months and self-rehabilitation exercises at 6 months as compared with at inclusion. Overall, 43.4% were working at inclusion, 64.2% at 6 months and 58.2% at 12 months (P<0.05 compared with inclusion). Pain intensity and scores from the Quebec, Dallas and FABQ questionnaires had significantly decreased at 6 months.

For more than half of the patients in this self-care rehabilitation program, educational objectives established with the patient were achieved, with a positive effect on returning to work and both professional and physical activities at 6 and 12 months.