Implementation of Evidence-based Guidelines for Assessment and Counseling of Patients With Neck and Back Pain in Health Care Centers

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Manual terapeut management: The intervention in the index group is a triage performed by the licensed manual teerapeut: take the anamnesis, perform a clinical and assessment formula examination (fear/avoidance, pain catastrophizing, and expectations), provide a diagnosis, and give the patient recommendations according to current evidence-based clinical guidelines. The outcome in this intervention arm will be compared to study participants with "care as usal" included in sthe study earlier.

Study summary

The overall aim is to investigate the health outcomes and consequences, from an individual and a societal perspective, of adding licensed Manual Therapists as first-contact healthcare providers in Primary Health Care centers to triage (not treat) patients seeking care for Neck and Back Pain.

A hybrid, quasi-experimental Target Trial Emulation design employing mixed methods contextualized to participating Primary Health Care centers will be used.

Neck and Back Pain patients with a physician's appointment at a participating Primary Health Care center will be included and followed one year;

* 300 patients with care as usual who see their physician (control group),
* 300 patients who see a licensed naprapath/chiropractor for an initial evidence-based assessment/screening before the physicians' visit.

Patient outcomes include recovery, function and work ability, as well as health economy are compared between the groups.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Patient-perceived Global Perceived Effect — 12 months
  This outcome is measured through a Lickert scale. The single question is: "compared with the start of the trial, how is your \[condition\] today?" Answers from "completely recovered" to "much worse"

Trial sites (1)

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