Targeted Interventions to Prevent Chronic Low Back Pain in High Risk Patients (TARGET)

Targeted Interventions to Prevent Chronic Low Back Pain in High Risk Patients: A Multi-Site Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Boston Medical Center, Intermountain Health Care, Inc., Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem among US adults. Initial episodes tend to be self-limited ("acute"), but some people can progress to a state of persistent pain. Often termed "chronic" LBP (cLBP), this condition can cause prolonged difficulty with most daily activities, including job performance. This study will compare two approaches for preventing patients with acute LBP (aLBP) from developing cLBP using a pragmatic, cluster randomized trial. The first approach is to provide PCPs with information regarding a patient's risk of transitioning from aLBP to cLBP and to encourage PCPs to treat patients according to accepted clinical guidelines. The second approach is to provide the same risk information and have PCPs team up with physical therapists to deliver psychologically-informed physical therapy (PIPT) for those patients determined to be at high risk for transitioning to cLBP. The 1,860 patients expected to be enrolled at five regional sites (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Charleston, South Carolina; and Salt Lake City, Utah) will start the study when their LBP is in an acute phase. The study's primary aims are to compare the proportions of cLBP and measures of functional ability between the two groups at 6 months. Secondary aims are to measure the referrals to physical therapists and specialists, opioid prescriptions, LBP-related x-rays or MRIs, surgeries, and other medical procedures during a 12-month follow-up period.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem among US adults. Initial episodes tend to be self-limited ("acute"), but some people can progress to a state of persistent pain. Often termed "chronic" LBP (cLBP), this condition can cause prolonged difficulty with most daily activities, including job performance. Most patients see chiropractors or primary care physicians (PCPs) for initial episodes of LBP. This study will compare two approaches for preventing patients with acute LBP (aLBP) from developing cLBP using a cluster randomized trial. Both treatments can be delivered in an outpatient PCP setting. The first approach is to provide PCPs with information regarding a patient's risk of transitioning from aLBP to cLBP and to encourage PCPs to treat patients according to accepted clinical guidelines (Guideline Based Care, GBC). The second approach is to provide the same risk information and have PCPs team up with physical therapists to deliver psychologically-informed physical therapy (PIPT) for those patients determined to be at high risk for transitioning to cLBP (GBC+PIPT). PIPT is designed to help patients identify and overcome physical and psychological barriers to recovery. The 1,860 patients expected to be enrolled as part of quality improvement at five regional sites (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Charleston, South Carolina; and Salt Lake City, Utah) will start the study when their LBP is in an acute phase. The study's primary aims are to compare the proportions of cLBP and measures of functional ability between the two groups at 6 months. Secondary aims are to measure the referrals to physical therapists and specialists, opioid prescriptions, LBP-related x-rays or MRIs, surgeries, and other medical procedures during a 12-month follow-up period. This study was designed with input from a variety of national and local stakeholders, including patients with LBP, providers, payers, professional organizations, purchasers, and policy representatives.

acute low back pain, primary care, psychologically informed physical therapy, cluster randomized pragmatic trial, comparative effectiveness, secondary prevention

PCP care is enhanced with a prompt referral to physical therapy (PT) that includes psychologically informed coaching directed towards education and reduced fear of movement

Management decisions are made between PCPs and patients with the guidance of best evidence but with no specific directives

Measured using a 2-item Chronic Low Back Pain (LBP) questionnaire. Patient endorses low back pain that interferes with regular daily activities more than 3 months and more then 1/2 the days in the past 6 months.

Measured using the 10-item Oswestry Disability Index (version 2.1a). Also known as the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. A measure of a patient's functional disability. The scale ranges from 0% to 100% with higher scores indicating more disability.

Patient referred to physical therapy or psychologically informed physical therapy measured using electronic health records over 12 months.

Referral to any non-physical therapy rehabilitation or pain management specialist (chiropractic, physiatrist, pain management) measured using electronic health records

Referral to any surgical specialist (orthopaedist, neurosurgeon, anesthesiologist) measured using electronic health records

Receipt of interventional pain procedures including epidural steroid injections measured using electronic health records

Medication prescription for opioids measured using electronic health records at the index baseline visit for the patient. Measure of intervention fidelity post clinic randomization.

Patient referred to physical therapy or psychologically informed physical therapy measured using electronic health records at the index baseline visit. This is a measure of intervention fidelity post-randomization of the clinics.

Inclusion Criteria: 18 years of age or older Receiving care for acute low back pain during a primary care clinic visit Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Medical contraindications to physical therapy based on the judgment of the primary care provider as documented in the medical record (i.e., "red flag" signs and symptoms of a potentially serious condition such as cauda equina syndrome, major or rapidly progressing neurological deficit, cancer, spinal infection or fracture)

Delitto A, Patterson CG, Stevans JM, Freburger JK, Khoja SS, Schneider MJ, Greco CM, Freel JA, Sowa GA, Wasan AD, Brennan GP, Hunter SJ, Minick KI, Wegener ST, Ephraim PL, Beneciuk JM, George SZ, Saper RB. Stratified care to prevent chronic low back pain in high-risk patients: The TARGET trial. A multi-site pragmatic cluster randomized trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Mar 30;34:100795. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100795. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Middleton A, Fitzgerald GK, Delitto A, Saper RB, Gergen Barnett K, Stevans J. Implementing stratified care for acute low back pain in primary care using the STarT Back instrument: a process evaluation within the context of a large pragmatic cluster randomized trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020 Nov 25;21(1):776. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03800-6.

Delitto A, Patterson CG, Stevans JM, Brennan GP, Wegener ST, Morrisette DC, Beneciuk JM, Freel JA, Minick KI, Hunter SJ, Ephraim PL, Friedman M, Simpson KN, George SZ, Daley KN, Albert MC, Tamasy M, Cash J, Lake DS, Freburger JK, Greco CM, Hough LJ, Jeong JH, Khoja SS, Schneider MJ, Sowa GA, Spigle WA, Wasan AD, Adams WG, Lemaster CM, Mishuris RG, Plumb DL, Williams CT, Saper RB. Study protocol for targeted interventions to prevent chronic low back pain in high-risk patients: A multi-site pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (TARGET Trial). Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Jul;82:66-76. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.05.010. Epub 2019 May 25.

Beneciuk JM, George SZ, Greco CM, Schneider MJ, Wegener ST, Saper RB, Delitto A. Targeted interventions to prevent transitioning from acute to chronic low back pain in high-risk patients: development and delivery of a pragmatic training course of psychologically informed physical therapy for the TARGET trial. Trials. 2019 May 6;20(1):256. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3350-3.