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Background Low back pain (LBP) is a condition with a high global prevalence, which is getting health professionals’ attention, including physiotherapists as they must have the skills to provide treatment that increases the patient’s quality of life. Clinical simulations could be a pedagogic strategy that facilitates adequate training for students to acquire skills to improve their professional reasoning in this clinical situation. Objective This study sought to determine the effects of clinical simulations with simulated patients (SP) on the physiotherapy students’ clinical decision-making within a role-playing (RP) scenario while caring of LBP patients. Methods This experimental study included 42 participants from two Colombian universities, randomized into two groups (SP, n = 21; RP, n = 21). The clinical skill of performing the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE-LBP) was evaluated while students cared for patients with LBP; after that, a pedagogical method was conducted that included clinical simulation and, finally, the OSCE-LBP was applied again to compare both groups. Results Changes occurred in the OSCE-LBP among both groups of students: the scores increased (0.66 and 0.59 in RP and SP, respectively), and neither of the two was superior (p value 0.01; 95%CI − 0.21 to 0.23). Conclusion Both types of simulation favor decision-making in professional reasoning in physiotherapy students during interactions with individuals with LBP. Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04428892 Identifying number: NCT04428892. It was retrospectively registered.

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Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a symptomatology with a high global prevalence; health professionals, including physiotherapists, must have the skills to create professional interaction plans that permit a better quality of life for consultants. Clinical simulation can be a pedagogic setting that facilitates in students adequate training to acquire skills that improve professional reasoning in this clinical situation. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of clinical simulation with simulated patient (SP) versus simulation with role playing (RP) in physiotherapy students for decision-making in clinical skills while caring for a person with LBP. Methods. Experimental study, with 42 participants from two Colombian universities, randomized into two groups (SP n = 21, RP n = 21). The clinical skill was evaluated during the interaction with a person with LBP for which the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE-ML) was validated for individuals with low back pain; thereafter, a pedagogical method was conducted that included clinical simulation and, finally, the OSCE-ML was applied again to compare both groups. Results. Changes occurred in the OSCE-ML among both groups of students: the scores increased (0.66 and 0.59 in RP and SP, respectively), and neither of the two was superior (difference 0.01 95%CI -0.21 to 0.23). Conclusion. Both types of simulation favour decision-making in professional reasoning in physiotherapy students during interaction with individuals with LBP. Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04428892 Identifying number: NCT04428892. Retrospectively registered.