Feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating a theory-driven group-based complex intervention versus usual physiotherapy to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain (SOLAS)

Contexts, behavioural mechanisms and outcomes to optimise therapeutic exercise prescription for persistent low back pain: a realist review

OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic exercises are a core treatment for low back pain (LBP), but it is uncertain how rehabilitative exercise facilitates change in outcomes. Realist reviews explore how the context (C) of certain settings or populations and underlying mechanisms (M) create intended or unintended outcomes (O). Our objective was to explore and understand the behavioural mechanisms by which therapeutic exercise creates change in outcomes of adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes for patients with LBP.

METHODS

This was a realist review reported following the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards guidance. We developed initial programme theories, modified with input from a steering group (experts, n=5), stakeholder group (patients and clinicians, n=10) and a scoping search of the published literature (n=37). Subsequently, an information specialist designed and undertook an iterative search strategy, and we refined and tested CMO configurations.

RESULTS

Of 522 initial papers identified, 75 papers were included to modify and test CMO configurations. We found that the patient-clinician therapeutic consultation builds a foundation of trust and was associated with improved adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes, and that individualised exercise prescription increases motivation to adhere to exercise and thus also impacts clinical outcomes. Provision of support such as timely follow-up and supervision can further facilitate motivation and confidence to improve adherence to therapeutic exercises for LBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Engagement in and adherence to therapeutic exercises for LBP, as well as clinical outcomes, may be optimised using mechanisms of trust, motivation and confidence. These CMO configurations provide a deeper understanding of ways to optimise exercise prescription for patients with LBP.

Intracluster correlation coefficients in osteoarthritis cluster randomized trials: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The design, analysis, and interpretation of cluster randomized clinical trials (RCTs) require accounting for potential correlation of observations on individuals within the same cluster. Reporting of observed intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) in cluster RCTs, as recommended by Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT), facilitates sample size calculation of future cluster RCTs and understanding of the trial statistical power. Our objective was to summarize observed ICCs in osteoarthritis (OA) cluster RCTs.

DESIGN

Systematic review of knee/hip OA cluster RCTs. We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for trials published from 2012, when CONSORT cluster RCTs extension was published, to September 2022. We calculated the proportion of cluster RCTs that reported observed ICCs. Of those that did, we extracted observed ICCs.

PROSPERO

CRD42022365660.

RESULTS

We screened 1121 references and included 20 cluster RCTs. Only 5 trials (25%) reported the observed ICC for at least one outcome variable. ICC values for pain outcomes were: 0, 0.01, 0.18; for physical function outcomes were: 0, 0.06, 0.13 (knee)/0.27 (hip); Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) total: 0.02, 0.02; symptoms of anxiety/depression: 0.22; disability: 0; and global change: 0. One out of four (25%) trials reported an ICC that was larger than the ICC used for sample size calculation and thus was underpowered.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite CONSORT statement recommendations for reporting cluster RCTs, few OA trials reported the observed ICC. Given the importance of the ICC to interpretation of trial results and future trial design, this reporting gap warrants attention.

The Web-Based Pain-at-Work Toolkit With Telephone Support for Employees With Chronic or Persistent Pain: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Feasibility Trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic or persistent pain affects one's ability to work or be productive at work, generating high societal and economic burden. However, the provision of work-related advice and support for people with chronic pain is variable or lacking. The Pain-at-Work (PAW) Toolkit was cocreated with people who live with pain, health care professionals, and employers. It aims to increase knowledge about employee rights and how to access support for managing a painful chronic condition in the workplace and provides advice on lifestyle behaviors that facilitate the management of chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to establish the feasibility of conducting a definitive cluster randomized controlled trial comparing access to the PAW Toolkit and telephone support calls from an occupational therapist (PAW) with treatment as usual (ie, standard support from their employer). Our primary outcomes are establishing parameters of feasibility, acceptability, usability, and safety of this digital workplace health intervention. We will assess the candidate primary and secondary outcomes' feasibility and test research processes for a definitive trial.

METHODS

This is an open-label, parallel 2-arm pragmatic feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial with exploratory health economics analysis and a nested qualitative interview study. We aim to recruit 120 participants from at least 8 workplace clusters (any type, >10 employees) in England. The recruitment of workplaces occurs via personal approach, and the recruitment of individual participants is web based. Eligible participants are vocationally active adults aged ≥18 years with internet access and self-reporting chronic pain interfering with their ability to undertake or enjoy productive work. A restricted 1:1 cluster-level randomization is used to allocate employment settings to PAW or treatment as usual; participants are unblinded to group allocation. Following site- and individual-level consent, participants complete a web-based baseline survey (time 0), including measures of work capacity, health and well-being, and health care resource use. Follow-up is performed at 3 months (time 1) and 6 months (time 2). Feasibility outcomes relate to recruitment; intervention fidelity (eg, delivery, reach, uptake, and engagement); retention; and follow-up. Qualitative evaluation (time 2) is mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior model and will explore intervention acceptability to employees and employers, along with individual and contextual factors influencing the delivery and uptake of the intervention.

RESULTS

Ethics approval was obtained in March 2023. Trial recruitment began in June 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

The PAW Toolkit is the first evidence-based digital health intervention aimed at supporting the self-management of chronic or persistent pain at work. This study will inform the design of a definitive trial, including sample size estimation, approaches to cluster site identification, primary and secondary outcomes' selection, and the final health economic model. Findings will inform approaches for the future delivery of this digital health intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05838677; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05838677.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/51474.

Feasibility of a theoretically grounded, multicomponent, physiotherapy intervention aiming to promote autonomous motivation to adopt and maintain physical activity in patients with lower-limb osteoarthritis: protocol for a single-arm trial

BACKGROUND

Lower-limb osteoarthritis (OA) causes high levels of pain and disability in adults over 45 years of age. Adopting and maintaining appropriate levels of physical activity (PA) can help patients with lower-limb OA self-manage their symptoms and reduce the likelihood of developing secondary noncommunicable diseases. However, patients with lower-limb OA are less active than people without musculoskeletal pain. This single-arm feasibility trial seeks to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a complex multicomponent physiotherapy behaviour change intervention that aims to aid patients with lower-limb OA to adopt and maintain optimal levels of PA.

METHODS

This trial will be conducted at one site in a National Health Service physiotherapy outpatient setting in the West Midlands of England. Up to thirty-five participants with lower-limb OA will be recruited to receive a physiotherapy intervention of six sessions that aims to optimise their PA levels during phases of behavioural change: adoption, routine formation and maintenance. The intervention is underpinned by self-determination theory (and other motivational frameworks) and seeks to foster a motivationally optimal (empowering) treatment environment and implement behaviour change techniques (BCTs) that target PA behaviours across the three phases of the intervention. Physiotherapists (n = 5-6) will receive training in the why and how of developing a more empowering motivational environment and the delivery of the intervention BCTs. Participants will complete patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures at baseline and 3-month (to reflect behavioural adoption) and 6-month (maintenance) post-baseline. Feasibility and acceptability will be primarily assessed through semi-structured interviews (purposively recruiting participants) and focus groups (inviting all physiotherapists and research staff). Further evaluation will include descriptive analysis of recruitment rates, loss of follow-up and intervention fidelity.

DISCUSSION

A novel complex, multicomponent theoretical physiotherapy behaviour change intervention that aims to create a more empowering motivational treatment environment to assist patients with lower-limb OA to adopt and maintain optimal PA levels has been developed. Testing the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and its associated physiotherapist training and related trial procedures is required to determine whether a full-scale parallel group (1:1) randomised controlled trial to evaluate the interventions effectiveness in clinical practice is indicated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial register: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial identification number: ISRCTN12002764 . Date of registration: 15 February 2022.

Using self-determination theory in research and evaluation in primary care

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity (the co-existence of two or more long-term conditions within an individual) is a complex management challenge, with a very limited evidence base. Theories can help in the design and operationalization of complex interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This article proposes self-determination theory (SDT) as a candidate theory for the development and evaluation of interventions in multimorbidity.

METHODS

We provide an overview of SDT, its use in research to date, and its potential utility in complex interventions for patients with multimorbidity based on the new MRC framework.

RESULTS

SDT-based interventions have mainly focused on health behaviour change in the primary prevention of disease, with limited use in primary care and chronic conditions management. However, SDT may be a useful candidate theory in informing complex intervention development and evaluation, both in randomized controlled trials and in evaluations of 'natural experiments'. We illustrate how it could be used multimorbidity interventions in primary care by drawing on the example of CARE Plus (a primary care-based complex intervention for patients with multimorbidity in deprived areas of Scotland).

CONCLUSIONS

SDT may have utility in both the design and evaluation of complex interventions for multimorbidity. Further research is required to establish its usefulness, and limitations, compared with other candidate theories.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Our funded research programme, of which this paper is an early output, has a newly embedded patient and public involvement group of four members with lived experience of long-term conditions and/or of being informal carers. They read and commented on the draft manuscript and made useful suggestions on the text. They will be fully involved at all stages in the rest of the programme of research.

Patient Experiences of Self-Management for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a lifelong condition causing disability and distress. One aim of treatment is to enhance self-management. To date, self-management interventions have had limited effectiveness. A greater understanding of self-management for CLBP has the potential to improve future interventional trials. The purpose of this study was to identify the experience of CLBP self-management for patients attending outpatient physical therapy and assess how the experience of CLBP self-management changes over time.

METHODS

This qualitative study used constructivist grounded theory. Patients with CLBP who were attending an outpatient physical therapy department were recruited using convenience sampling. Each participant attended a semistructured interview. These were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were coded and thematically analyzed by the lead researcher. Recruitment continued until data saturation. Participants reviewed preliminary themes for validation.

RESULTS

Six subthemes emerged from 9 interviews: (1) self-doubt, (2) coping day to day, (3) independent discovery, (4) developing resilience, (5) health care: opportunity and threat, and (6) living with pain differently. Two themes took on greatest significance. Self-doubt appeared most strongly and was prevalent in all experiences. However, living with pain differently appeared in those who had developed a level of pain acceptance. These themes formed a conceptual model, "Fluctuating Uncertainty."

CONCLUSION

The experience of CLBP self-management is one of fluctuating self-doubt. Self-doubt is the predominant experience and is characterized by the perception of pain as a threat and low pain self-efficacy. During times of greater clarity, individuals develop strategies that increase pain self-efficacy and reinforce the perception of pain without threat. These are features of learning to live well with pain.

IMPACT

CLBP is a lifelong condition requiring self-management. The current study characterizes the self-management strategies used by patients attending physical therapy. The fluctuating nature of these strategies is dependent upon perception of pain and pain self-efficacy.

LAY SUMMARY

People with CLBP who self-manage their pain fluctuate between attempting to control pain and learning to live with pain. People who understand their condition develop wider-ranging self-management strategies.

Participants' experiences from group-based treatment at multidisciplinary pain centres - a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of participants in non-pharmacological group-based treatments delivered as part of a randomised controlled trial at Norwegian tertiary care pain centres.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured interviews with 15 persons were conducted. The data were analysed with a descriptive thematic cross-case analysis based on the method of systematic text condensation.

RESULTS

All participants talked about some aspects of the group-based treatments as a positive experience, but mainly the outcome was in line with their expectations; they hoped it would reduce their pain but did not expect it. There were no clear-cut differences in the experiences between the participants from the two different intervention groups. The content was experienced as both relevant and interesting but also to introduce concepts that were difficult to grasp and understand. Similarly, the experiences of participating in a group-based treatment were mostly stimulating but could also be challenging because of an expectancy of sharing personal stories. Although experiencing few changes to their pain they came away with techniques and lessons that were valuable to them.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, taking part in group-based treatment was perceived as giving positive and valuable lessons, due to relevant content and learning from the professionals and fellow participants, but without any clear indication of reduced pain. Approval from ethical committee number 10260 REK Midt.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04057144.