Care Outcomes for Chiropractic Outpatient Veterans Aim 3-pilot Trial

The coinciding problems of chronic pain and mental illness are of great concern for patients seeking care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities. Of the 5.7 million veterans treated in VA facilities in 2012, more than half reported chronic pain syndromes, including chronic low back pain (cLBP). Veterans also experience many mental health comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. Veterans in pain are often managed using prescription drugs, including opioids, psychotropic medications, and sleep agents. Non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain, which also may provide relief of mental health symptoms, may be welcomed complementary therapies for veterans suffering from these conditions.

Patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and pain at multiple locations often report depression, anxiety and other mental health symptoms. Chronic pain may perpetuate mental health comorbidity as these conditions share common pathophysiological pathways. Research has shown that the non-specific effects of empathetic doctor communication and therapeutic alliance improves clinical outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that chiropractic care offers relief for pain and mental health symptoms through the direct effects of treatment-focused chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT), as well as through the indirect, non-specific effects of the team-based relationship with the clinician.

However, chiropractic care is not delivered in isolation from other treatments within the VA. Thus, the investigators will test a feasible, effective, patient-centered, guideline-based, integrative care model that integrates chiropractic into VA Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs). This integrative care pathway will involve primary care providers, mental health professionals, and doctors of chiropractic (DCs) engaged in the treatment of veterans with cLBP, with or without mental health comorbidity. While DCs are providing services within VA in increasing numbers over the past 13 years, as with any new service, adoption and appropriate placement faces challenges. Many VA providers may know little about the clinical approaches used by DCs. Similarly, DCs may not be fully aware of the processes involved in the delivery of primary care services within VA or the healthcare needs of veterans with mental illness. The purpose of this pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and patient perceptions of an integrative care pathway, developed through a consensus-based process, for the coordinated care for VA patients with cLBP and mental health comorbidity.

As this is a pragmatic trial, chiropractic care will consist of usual chiropractic procedures for the management chronic low back pain (cLBP). Treatment approaches will be based on clinical evaluation, which may include diagnostic testing, to determine a working diagnosis, rule out pathology, and/or to screen for conditions requiring referral or other co-management. The investigators anticipate that chiropractic care often will include some form of chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT). DCs will likely also recommend rehabilitative exercise, stretching, or nutritional and lifestyle advice based upon clinical findings and patient goals/preferences. The investigators will evaluate treatments through electronic health records (EHR) data abstraction following completion of chiropractic care at Week 10. As per typical VA care, DCs will monitor the participant's health status throughout the trial and initiate referrals as clinically indicated. Referrals to primary care and mental health providers will be consistent with the chiropractic integrated care pathway developed during a prior phase of the study. The investigators anticipate the most common communication and referral methods will occur through note-review and countersign procedures, which are already established among VA providers using the VA electronic health record, but may also occur in person or via phone conversations. Chiropractic care will be administered by licensed DCs who are current employees of the Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS).