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

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

Chiropractors Can Do: Testing the Feasibility of Intervening to Optimize Chiropractic Care for Adults With Neck Pain Disorders: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

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.

Knowledge translation, Clinical practice guidelines, Multimodal care, Brief Action Planning, Feasibility outcomes

The intervention consists of three webinars followed by the quiz, two online case scenario and a video on BAP model plus a printed copy of Clinical Practice Guideline (CPGs) on NSNP. After completing these modules and learning the key strategies, each chiropractor will recruit five neck pain patients and implement the strategies on their patients to measure the clinical outcomes for a follow-up of three months. The control group will receive only a printed copy of CPGs. A checklist of proxy measures embedded within patient encounter forms will be used to assess chiropractors' compliance with guideline recommendations at study onset and at three 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.

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

Self-rated disability due to neck pain measured on the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Scale range and subscales:10 items in total, each item is scored from 0-5 ("0" = no disability and "5" = full disability) for a total of 50

Self-rated satisfaction with care measured on the Short Form Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18). Scale range and subscales:10 items in total, each item is scored from 1-5 ("1" = strongly agree and "5" = strongly disagree)

Chiropractors Inclusion criteria: Registered with their professional licensing boards and in private practice in the Canada; Graduated at least one year ago; Provide chiropractic treatment to a minimum of two adults (age 18-65) with neck pain per week; Speak English or French; and Have access to Internet. Exclusion criteria: Chiropractors will be excluded if they have already attended the webinar series or the self-management learning module. Prior webinar and learning module participants will have needed to register beforehand, which therefore provides the mechanism for confirming study ineligibility. Patients Inclusion criteria: Attend a consenting chiropractor for non-specific neck pain of any duration; Aged between 18 and 65, with a primary complaint of acute (<3 months) or chronic (>3 months) neck pain presenting as a new condition for treatment at the participating clinic; Fluency in English or French to a level where they can read and understand the study information sheet, complete the consent form, and respond to the telephone-administered questionnaire. This will be assessed by the staff member of each chiropractor's team at the time of screening; and Provide written informed consent. Exclusion criteria: Previous neck surgery; Presence of Red flags; Pregnancy; and Chiropractic care received in the preceding 3 months for a complaint of neck pain

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Dhopte P, French SD, Quon JA, Owens H, Bussieres A; Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. Guideline implementation in the Canadian chiropractic setting: a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial and parallel study. Chiropr Man Therap. 2019 Jul 17;27:31. doi: 10.1186/s12998-019-0253-z. eCollection 2019.

Dhopte P, Ahmed S, Mayo N, French S, Quon JA, Bussieres A. Testing the feasibility of a knowledge translation intervention designed to improve chiropractic care for adults with neck pain disorders: study protocol for a pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2016 Jul 20;2:33. doi: 10.1186/s40814-016-0076-9. eCollection 2016.