Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35017255›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2022

Feasibility of delivering and evaluating stratified care integrated with telehealth ('Rapid Stratified Telehealth') for patients with low back pain: protocol for a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial.

Joshua R Zadro, Christopher Needs, Nadine E Foster, David Martens, Danielle M Coombs, Gustavo C Machado, Cameron Adams, Christopher S Han, Christopher G Maher

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Models of care for managing non-specific low back pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Joshua R ZadroInstitute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia joshua.zadro@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0001-8981-2125
Christopher NeedsRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Nadine E FosterSurgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Research and Education Alliance, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
David MartensRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Danielle M CoombsInstitute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0005-7851
Gustavo C MachadoInstitute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8544-0448
Cameron AdamsRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Christopher S HanInstitute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Christopher G MaherInstitute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
The University of Sydney · AURoyal Prince Alfred Hospital · AUThe University of Queensland · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLong waiting time is an important barrier to accessing recommended care for low back pain (LBP) in Australia's public health system. This study describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to establish the feasibility of delivering and evaluating stratified care integrated with telehealth ('Rapid Stratified Telehealth'), which aims to reduce waiting times for LBP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a single-centre feasibility and pilot RCT with nested qualitative interviews. Sixty participants with LBP newly referred to a hospital outpatient clinic will be randomised to receive Rapid Stratified Telehealth or usual care. Rapid Stratified Telehealth involves matching the mode and type of care to participants' risk of persistent disabling pain (using the Keele STarT MSK Tool) and presence of potential radiculopathy. 'Low risk' patients are matched to one session of advice over the telephone, 'medium risk' to telehealth physiotherapy plus App-based exercises, 'high risk' to telehealth physiotherapy, App-based exercises, and an online pain education programme, and 'potential radiculopathy' fast tracked to usual in-person care. Primary outcomes include the feasibility of delivering Rapid Stratified Telehealth (ie, acceptability assessed through interviews with clinicians and patients, intervention fidelity, appointment duration, App useability and online pain education programme usage) and evaluating Rapid Stratified Telehealth in a future trial (ie, recruitment rates, consent rates, lost to follow-up and missing data). Secondary outcomes include waiting times, number of appointments, intervention and healthcare costs, clinical outcomes (pain, function, quality of life, satisfaction), healthcare use and adverse events (AEs). Quantitative analyses will be descriptive and inform a future adequately-powered RCT. Interview data will be analysed using thematic analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received approval from the Ethics Review Committee (RPAH Zone: X21-0221). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12621001104842.

Indexed as

Low Back PainTelemedicineFeasibility StudiesHumansPhysical Therapy ModalitiesPilot ProjectsRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicback painprimary careprotocols & guidelinesrehabilitation medicinerheumatology

Identifiers

PMID35017255
PMCPMC8753403
OpenAlexW4205168270

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.