Patient Partners with Back Pain

ISRCTN	ISRCTN92231696
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN92231696
Protocol serial number	D0580
Sponsor	Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK)
Funder	Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK)

Submission date: 10/07/2002
Registration date: 10/07/2002
Last edited: 16/09/2009

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Signs and Symptoms

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Jane Dacre
Scientific

Academic Centre for Medical Education (ACME)
Royal Free & University College Medical School
4th Floor, Holborn Union Building
Archway Campus
Highgate Hill
London
N19 5LW
United Kingdom

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Scientific title
Study acronym	PPBP
Study objectives	The hypothesis was that teaching students about back pain using patient partners would lead to improvements in clinical skills and examination performance compared to students taught using traditional methods. 4 patient partners were trained how to teach students about back pain. The effect of this teaching was assessed quantitatively by looking at student exam performance in an OSCE station on taking a history of a patient with back pain. Qualitative information using questionnaires and focus groups was also obtained.
Ethics approval(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Back pain
Intervention	Four patients were selected from the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust routine rheumatology out-patients clinics. They participated in a training programme, which consisted of 2 full day intensive workshops followed by 4 weekly half-day workshops. The last workshop incorporated a training Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The training programme was designed to include: 1. History taking and examination of the back 2. The anatomy of the spine and related structures 3. Red flags in back pain 4. Management of back pain problems in the UK 5. General teaching skills and group facilitation. Patient partners (PPs) are now teaching the students. They teach for 1.5 h in weeks 2 and 4 of a 5 week block. They teach alternate groups of 15 students each as they rotate through the firms of the year 3 clinical course. Evaluation questionnaires are being collected from students and PPs.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	Performance in OSCE exam station.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Changes in student confidence and skills in taking a history from a patient with back pain.
Completion date	31/08/2003

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	4
Key inclusion criteria	Suitable patients with mechanical back pain were selected for training. Selection criteria included: 1. Clinical features characteristic of the condition 2. A background of healthcare, education, or both disciplines 3. A stable physical and psychological condition 4. An ability and willingness to learn and teach. Other attributes included were reliability, good communication skills, literacy, and fluency in English and, an understanding of their condition and ability to express themselves.
Key exclusion criteria	Does not match inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	01/11/2001
Date of final enrolment	31/08/2003

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
England

Study participating centre

Academic Centre for Medical Education (ACME)

London
N19 5LW
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/04/2006		Yes	No