Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36494716›Full record

ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2022

Feasibility of testing the effectiveness of a theory-informed intervention to reduce imaging for low back pain: a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial.

Hazel J Jenkins, Simon D French, Anika Young, Niamh A Moloney, Chris G Maher, John S Magnussen, Blake F Dear, Mark J Hancock

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 29% 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hazel J JenkinsFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia. hazel.jenkins@mq.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0535-687X
Simon D FrenchFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Anika YoungFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Niamh A MoloneyFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Chris G MaherThe University of Sydney, Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney, Australia.
John S MagnussenFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Blake F DearFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Mark J HancockFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 2, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Macquarie University · AUThe University of Sydney · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGeneral medical practitioner (GP) recruitment and subsequent data collection in clinical practice are challenging and may limit successful completion of a large-scale trial. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of undertaking a cluster randomised controlled trial to test an intervention to reduce non-indicated imaging for low back pain in general medical practice.

methodsA pilot cluster randomised controlled trial was performed, with recruitment of GPs and randomisation of GP clinics. All GPs attended a training session and were asked to record low back pain codes in electronic medical records for any low back pain presentations. Intervention group GPs were trained in the use of a patient education booklet to be used during low back pain patient visits. Control group GPs provided usual care. Outcomes for the proposed trial were collected to determine feasibility. GP recruitment was assessed as the proportion of GPs approached who consented to participate. Low back pain imaging outcomes were collected from electronic medical records (counts of patients presenting with low back pain) and from Australian healthcare administrative (Medicare) data (counts of imaging use). GP compliance with study procedures was assessed and qualitative data reported.

resultsThirty-four GP clinics were approached, with four participating (12%). At these clinics, 13/19 (68%) GPs consented to participate, and 10/19 (53%) started the study. Outcome data were collected from medical records for all GPs. Three GPs (30%) withdrew consent to access Medicare data, limiting reporting of imaging outcome measures. Three GPs (30%) self-reported low compliance entering low back pain codes.

conclusionsThis pilot cluster randomised controlled trial demonstrated the feasibility of many aspects of a full-scale effectiveness study, while also identifying a number of challenges that need to be resolved. Recommendations related to GP recruitment, study compliance, data collection, and outcome measures were made to increase the success of a future trial.

trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR), Trial ID: ACTRN12619000991112; Registered 11 July 2019, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376973.

Indexed as

Decreasing imaging overuseDiagnostic imagingGeneral medical practiceLow back painMedical imagingPatient educationPilot study

Identifiers

PMID36494716
PMCPMC9733261
OpenAlexW4311291591

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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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.