Classification-based approach for low back pain in primary care
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13273552 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13273552 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 109/2016 |
- Submission date
- 04/04/2019
- Registration date
- 13/05/2019
- Last edited
- 10/02/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Low back pain (LBP) is the most common disabling health condition worldwide. It causes suffering for individuals and financial burden for society. Over 90% of LBP patients are classified as non-specific. Unhelpful beliefs and inappropriate imaging are common. Imaging findings are usual also in people without LBP. LBP is understood as complex biopsychosocial symptom with many known multidimensional (symptom-related, lifestyle, psychological and social) risk factors for persistent or prolonged disability.
StarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) is developed for early identification of individual risk factors of LBP patients to enable targeted care. Using SBST as a screening method for classification-based approach has been shown to improve primary care efficiency for LBP patients. Biopsychosocially oriented patient education booklet, which include imagine guideline and resource, is a possible way to increase patients’ understanding of LBP and decrease inappropriate imaging.
Aim of this study, is to investigate whether the implementation of classification-based biopsychosocial approach for LBP patients in primary care is effective and cost saving compared to best current care.
Who can participate?
Anyone aged 18-years who has had low back pain for longer than two weeks can take part.
What does the study involve?
The study involves low back pain patient information and imaging policy. Participating requires 20min time to answer web-based questionnaire four times in 3 years.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participating in the study gives new knowledge and enables improvement of patient information in low back pain. There is no risk for individuals when participating in this study.
Where is the study run from?
Etelä-Savo Social and Health Care District (Essote), Finland
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2017 to May 2020
Who is funding the study?
1. Department of General Medicine Mikkeli Central Hospital (Essote), Mikkeli, Finland
2. The Finnish Cultural Foundation
Who is the main contact?
Anna Sofia Simula, anna.simula@oulu.fi
Contact information
Scientific
Center for Life Course Health Research
P.O.Box 8000
University of Oulu
Oulu
90014
Finland
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-0796-4892 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +358 294 48 0000 |
| Anna.Simula@oulu.fi |
Study information
| Study design | Benchmarking Controlled Trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Classification-based biopsychosocial approach for low back pain in the primary care compared to best current care – A Benchmarking Controlled Trial |
| Study acronym | Trust Your Back |
| Study objectives | The classification-based biopsychosocial approach for low back pain (LBP) patients in primary care improves patients’ symptoms and work disability compared to best current care. We hypothesize that is also cost saving. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 23/01/2017, (P.O.Box 8000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Oulo, Finland; university.of.oulu@oulu.fi; +358 294 48 0000), ref: 109/2016 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Low back pain |
| Intervention | Implementation of a classification-based biopsychosocial approach for low back pain patients in primary care. Organisational level We will evaluate all possible pathways for low back pain (LBP) patients in each health care region. Direct access to physiotherapist will be emphasized. If the organization uses nurse appointments, premeditated phrases will be taught. Local practices within each health care area will be modified to enable easy access to care according to risk classification. All health care professionals participating in LBP patients’ care will be informed about new care pathways. Education about the new strategies to professionals will be organized and written information to each health care area will be provided. Professionals We will enhance implementation of classification-based approach as right and equal (to all patients) information is transferred from health care professionals to patients. For this purpose, we will educate all health care professionals in the health care regions who treat LBP patients. Physiotherapists will receive four days (28h) education of screening methods and biopsychosocially oriented individualized physical therapy. Main messages of the training include to avoid unhelpful/harmful messages and unnecessary imaging in non-specific LBP; and to assess individual psychosocial factors (using StarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) and the short version of Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire). For physicians, we will give one four-hour session and shorter booster sessions. The four main themes of education are: imaging issues, SBST, life style factors and work disability. We will discuss the relevance of lumbar MRI findings, e.g., the prevalence of findings among asymptomatic adults, and disadvantages of imaging. Key issues on pain medication will be taught. The role of physiotherapy will be emphasized. The physicians will also be taught the main principles of biopsychosocially oriented individualized care. For nurses we will conduct two two-hour sessions, which include data on natural course of LBP, harm of nocebo messages given by health care providers to patients, risk classification using SBST and the current treatment principles and pathways. Premeditated phrases in electrical medical records will enhance patient history clarification and classification-based care guidance. Professionals will use SBST systematically for all LBP patients and they will make individual care plan for the patients according to the risk profile. Patient education booklet, which is based on biopsychosocial model, delivers evidence-based information on etiology of LBP and appropriate imaging to patients and also reminds professionals of the biopsychosocial model of LBP. The booklet is translated to Finnish. Patient level All LBP patients receive the patient education booklet. Patients will be classified to low-, moderate- or high-risk groups during the first visit in health care based on the SBST. Physicians and physiotherapists will use the SBST as a classification method at the visit of LBP patient. Physicians and physiotherapists will plan the individual treatment process according to risk classification. Low-risk patients will get advice on pain medication if needed, patient education leaflet based on biopsychosocial model. Referral to physiotherapist are scheduled only when necessary. Medium-risk patients will get advice of pain medication if needed, patient education leaflet based on biopsychosocial model and assessment by a physiotherapist. In addition to clinical examination and patient advice, physiotherapist evaluates patients’ pain, fears and mal-adaptive behaviors. Physiotherapy will be individualized and biopsychosocially oriented. Patients are allowed to contact physiotherapist up to eight times over 12 weeks. Additional ad hoc contacts are possible. Co-occurring symptoms will be evaluated and treated if needed. Physiotherapist can refer patient to physician. If needed, the patient will be referred to sleep management group with the focus on non-pharmaceutical treatments, as well as to psychiatric nurse in the health center. Other co-morbidities such as smoking, overweight and type 2 diabetes, will be considered and the patient will be referred to further care if needed. High-risk patients will receive similar treatment protocol as medium-risk patients but with emphasis on psychosocial factors and as short delay for the therapy as possible (less than one week). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Disability measured using Oswestry disability index (ODI) from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Pain and disability: Oswestry disability Index, change from baseline to 3-month follow-up 2. Roland Morris disability questionnaire change from baseline to 12-month follow-up 3. PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) (short form 20a) change from baseline to 3- and 12-month follow-ups 4. Frequency of LBP during past 3 months change from baseline to 3- and 12-month follow-ups 5. LBP intensity (NRS) during past week change from baseline to 3- and 12-month follow-ups 6. Leg pain intensity (NRS) during past week change from baseline to 3- and 12-month follow-ups 7. SBST (STarT Back screening tool) change from baseline to 12-month follow-up. 8. Health-related quality of life: EQ-5D (EuroQol five dimensions) change from baseline to 12-month follow-up. 9. Direct costs; 9.1 Physician visit during past year 9.2 Physiotherapist visits during past year 9.3 Nurse visits during past year 9.4 Other health care professional visits (e.g. psychologist) during past year 9.5 Imaging due to LBP (x-ray/MRI/CT) during past year 9.6 Pain medication over the first year and 3 years 9.7 Back operation and other invasive procedures. 10. Indirect costs: 10.1 Days on sick leave during past year (LBP-related and All) 10.2 Disability pensions over the first year and at 3 years. |
| Overall study start date | 05/05/2016 |
| Completion date | 31/12/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 65 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Our sample size calculation is based on hypothesis test: (i) to test superiority of Classification-based approach for Low Back Pain in the primary care compared to best current care. For the sample size calculation, we used web-based calculator for Inference for Means: Comparing Two Independent Samples: https://www.stat.ubc.ca/~rollin/stats/ssize/n2.html. Common standard deviation of ODI was 15% (evaluated using preliminary data of this study). Type I error rate is 0.05. A sample size of 284 patients would enable detection of difference of 5% in ODI given 80% power. With a 30% drop-out the final sample size is 406 patients. |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. 18-65 years of age 2. LBP with or without radicular pain |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. First patient-reported contact to health care due to LBP and episode has lasted less than 2 weeks 2. A suspicion of a serious cause for LBP or LBP requiring urgent care. |
| Date of first enrolment | 13/04/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Finland
Study participating centres
Mikkeli
50100
Finland
Lappeenranta
35130
Finland
Rovaniemi
96101
Finland
Sponsor information
University/education
Faculty of Medicine
P.O. Box 5000
Oulu
90014
Finland
| Phone | +358445758125 |
|---|---|
| anna.simula@oulu.fi | |
| Website | https://www.oulu.fi/medicine/elite |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/03yj89h83 |
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
No information available
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/01/2023 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | The results of the trial will be published in peer-reviewed international journals. The results will be disseminated through conventional media and social media. |
| IPD sharing plan | The current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 06/04/2020 | 08/04/2020 | Yes | No |
| Results article | 20/04/2024 | 10/02/2025 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
10/02/2025: Publication reference added.
16/06/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 30/05/2020 to 30/09/2020.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/01/2022 to 01/01/2023.
08/04/2020: Publication reference added.
08/01/2020: Internal review.
08/04/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by IRB
