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Testing the Feasibility of Intervening to Optimize Chiropractic Care for Adults With Neck Pain Disorders

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Neck Pain
Interventions
Behavioral: Multifaceted KT intervention
Registration Number
NCT02483091
Lead Sponsor
McGill University
Brief Summary

To assess the feasibility of conducting a larger cluster randomized controlled trial to facilitate the effectiveness of a complex Knowledge Translation (KT) intervention, i.e. implementation of multimodal care, into chiropractic clinical practice, designed to improve the management of patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain (NSNP) disorders.

To evaluate feasibility, the investigators will ascertain how well participating chiropractors and patients adhere to the study protocol and will solicit feedback from them about the overall usefulness of the content and format of the KT intervention. This study will determine planning for the main study and also the outcomes to be used as a primary outcome.

Detailed Description

The aim of this pilot study project is to determine the feasibility of implementing a multifaceted KT intervention to promote the use of multimodal care by chiropractors managing patients with NSNP.

Design: Cluster randomized controlled pilot and feasibility trial. Chiropractors in private practice in Canada will be randomized to receive either a theory-based tailored KT intervention in the experimental group or simply a printed copy of the guideline in the control group.

Study population and sample size: 30 chiropractors will be recruited from a random, nationally representative sample of 200 chiropractors. Each chiropractor will recruit five neck pain patients for a total of 150 patients.

The design of the KT intervention was informed by the results of a related qualitative study (Theoretical Domains Framework interviews) and consists of a series of three webinars, two online case scenarios, a self-management video on Brief Action Planning (BAP) and a printed copy of the practice guideline (Bussières et al., 2015).

Primary feasibility outcomes for both chiropractors and patients include rates of: 1) recruitment, 2) study retention, and 3) adherence to the intervention (Tickle-Degnen, 2013). A checklist of proxy measures embedded within patient encounter forms will be used to assess chiropractors' compliance with guideline recommendations e.g., exercise and self-care prescriptions, at study onset and at three months follow-up.

Secondary outcomes include whether or not the chiropractor's recommended multimodal care, scores on measures of behavioural constructs e.g., self-efficacy, knowledge.

Primary clinical outcomes for patients includes measures of pain intensity and neck pain-specific disability.

Analyses from this pilot study will focus on generating point estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for parameters of a priori interest (e.g., recruitment, retention, adherence, pain intensity, neck disability index).

Discussion: The main strength of this study includes its use of a representative sample and randomized controlled design. The results of this study will inform the design of a larger cluster randomized controlled trial aimed at confirming the effectiveness and increasing the use of multimodal care by chiropractors managing patients with NSNP.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Multifaceted KT interventionMultifaceted KT interventionWebinars, online vignettes and e-module, copy of guideline recommendations
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feasibility outcome (composite outcome measure)6 months

The main outcome of interest is feasibility that includes recruitment, retention, adherence to the study protocol and effectiveness potential.

Recruitment rate include: 1) eligibility rate (number of eligible chiropractors and patients divided by invited chiropractors or patients) and 2) participation rate (number agreeing to participate divided by eligible chiropractors or patients).

Retention rate: Number of chiropractors and patients who completed all outcome measures at baseline and at 3 month follow-up plus rate of completion of questionnaires by chiropractors (measures of behavioural constructs) and patients (clinical outcomes).

For chiropractors, rate of adherence includes attendance of all 3 webinars, associated quizzes, 2 clinical vignettes and the self-management learning module; For patients, rate of adherence includes follow-up visits, prescribed home exercise and physical activity.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Scores on measures of behavioural constructs (composite outcome measure)6 months

For chiropractors: Scores on measures of behavioural constructs (levels of knowledge and self-efficacy) for recommended multimodal care.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

McGill University

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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