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Abdel Shaheed C, Ivers R, Vizza L, McLachlan A, Kelly PJ, Blyth F, Stanaway F, Clare PJ, Thompson R, Lung T, Degenhardt L, Reid S, Martin B, Wright M, Osman R, French S, McCaffery K, Campbell G, Jenkins H, Mathieson S, Boogs M, McMaugh J, Bennett C, Maher C. Clinical Observation, Management and Function Of low back pain Relief Therapies (COMFORT): A cluster randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e075286. [PMID: 37989377 PMCID: PMC10668201 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Low back pain (LBP) is commonly treated with opioid analgesics despite evidence that these medicines provide minimal or no benefit for LBP and have an established profile of harms. International guidelines discourage or urge caution with the use of opioids for back pain; however, doctors and patients lack practical strategies to help them implement the guidelines. This trial will evaluate a multifaceted intervention to support general practitioners (GPs) and their patients with LBP implement the recommendations in the latest opioid prescribing guidelines. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a cluster randomised controlled trial that will evaluate the effect of educational outreach visits to GPs promoting opioid stewardship alongside non-pharmacological interventions including heat wrap and patient education about the possible harms and benefits of opioids, on GP prescribing of opioids medicines dispensed. At least 40 general practices will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or control (no outreach visits; GP provides usual care). A total of 410 patient-participants (205 in each arm) who have been prescribed an opioid for LBP will be enrolled via participating general practices. Follow-up of patient-participants will occur over a 1-year period. The primary outcome will be the cumulative dose of opioid dispensed that was prescribed by study GPs over 1 year from the enrolment visit (in morphine milligram equivalent dose). Secondary outcomes include prescription of opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by study GPs or any GP, health services utilisation and patient-reported outcomes such as pain, quality of life and adverse events. Analysis will be by intention to treat, with a health economics analysis also planned. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The trial received ethics approval from The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2022/511). The results will be disseminated via publications in journals, media and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12622001505796.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Abdel Shaheed
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rowena Ivers
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lisa Vizza
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew McLachlan
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Patrick J Kelly
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fiona Blyth
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fiona Stanaway
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip James Clare
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Prevention Research Collaboration, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rachel Thompson
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Lung
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Louisa Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sharon Reid
- Specialty of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bradley Martin
- Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Arkansas, Arkansas, USA
| | - Michael Wright
- Centre for Health Economics Research Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rawa Osman
- Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Connect, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon French
- Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kirsten McCaffery
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Campbell
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hazel Jenkins
- Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephanie Mathieson
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Monika Boogs
- Painaustralia Consumer Advisory Group, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jarrod McMaugh
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Carol Bennett
- Alliance for Gambling Reform, National, Victoria, Australia
- College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration National Medicines Scheduling Advisory Committee, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christopher Maher
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Parker K, Nunns M, Xiao Z, Ford T, Ukoumunne OC. Intracluster correlation coefficients from school-based cluster randomized trials of interventions for improving health outcomes in pupils. J Clin Epidemiol 2023; 158:18-26. [PMID: 36997102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To summarize intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates for pupil health outcomes from school-based cluster randomized trials (CRTs) across world regions and describe their relationship with study design characteristics and context. METHODS School-based CRTs reporting ICCs for pupil health outcomes were identified through a literature search of MEDLINE (via Ovid). ICC estimates were summarized both overall and for different categories of study characteristics. RESULTS Two hundred and forty-six articles reporting ICC estimates were identified. The median (interquartile range) ICC was 0.031 (0.011 to 0.08) at the school level (N = 210) and 0.063 (0.024 to 0.1) at the class level (N = 46). The distribution of ICCs at the school level was well described by the beta and exponential distributions. Besides larger ICCs in definitive trials than feasibility studies, there were no clear associations between study characteristics and ICC estimates. CONCLUSION The distribution of school-level ICCs worldwide was similar to previous summaries from studies in the United States. The description of the distribution of ICCs will help to inform sample size calculations and assess their sensitivity when designing future school-based CRTs of health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Parker
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Room 2.16, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, 79 Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
| | - Michael Nunns
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - ZhiMin Xiao
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, L5 Clifford Allbutt Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus Box 58, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Room 2.16, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, 79 Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
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Weissenfels A, Klamroth S, Carl J, Naber I, Mino E, Geidl W, Gelius P, Abu-Omar K, Pfeifer K. Effectiveness and implementation success of a co-produced physical activity referral scheme in Germany: study protocol of a pragmatic cluster randomised trial. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1545. [PMID: 35964042 PMCID: PMC9375362 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13833-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While effective physical activity referral schemes (PARSs) and related structures for promoting physical activity (PA) already exist in several countries, in Germany, PARSs have not yet been implemented systematically and nationwide. Through a co-production approach with relevant actors in the German healthcare system, a PARS was developed, and an implementation plan was created (e.g. financing). This study protocol aims to evaluate the developed PARS for people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Germany regarding its potential effectiveness and implementation success. Methods To evaluate the effectiveness and implementation success of the PARS, we will apply a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT) in Hybrid II design by comparing two intervention groups (PARS vs PA advice [PAA]). The trial will take place in the Nürnberg metropolitan region, with 24 physician practices recruiting 567 people with NCDs. Both groups will receive brief PA advice from a physician to initially increase the participants’ motivation to change their activity level. Subsequently, the PARS group will be given individualised support from an exercise professional to increase their PA levels and be transferred to local exercise opportunities. In contrast, participants in the PAA group will receive only the brief PA advice as well as information and an overview of regional PA offerings to become more active at their own initiative. After 12 and 24 weeks, changes in moderate to vigorous PA and in physical activity-related health competence (movement competence, control competence, self-regulation competence) will be measured as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes will include changes in quality of life. To measure implementation success, we refer to the RE-AIM framework and draw on patient documentation, interviews, focus groups and surveys of the participating actors (physicians, exercise professionals). Discussion Through a between-group comparison, we will investigate whether additional individual support by an exercise professional compared to brief PA advice alone leads to higher PA levels in people with NCDs. The acceptance and feasibility of both interventions in routine care in the German healthcare system will also be evaluated. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04947787. Registered 01 June 2021. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13833-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Weissenfels
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Sarah Klamroth
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Carl
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Inga Naber
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eriselda Mino
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Geidl
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Gelius
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Karim Abu-Omar
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klaus Pfeifer
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
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Lehr AM, Jacobs WC, Stellato RK, Castelein RM, Cumhur Oner F, Kruyt MC. Methodological aspects of a randomized within-patient concurrent controlled design for clinical trials in spine surgery. Clin Trials 2022; 19:259-266. [PMID: 35297288 DOI: 10.1177/17407745221084705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Randomized controlled trials are considered the highest level of evidence, but their feasibility in the surgical field is severely hampered by methodological and practical issues. Concurrent comparison between the experimental and control conditions within the same patient can be an effective strategy to mitigate some of these challenges and improve generalizability, mainly by the elimination of between-patient variability and reduction of the required sample size. This article aims (1) to describe the methodological aspects of a randomized within-patient controlled trial and (2) to quantify the added value of this design, based on a recently completed randomized within-patient controlled trial on bone grafts in instrumented lumbar posterolateral spinal fusion. METHODS Boundary conditions for the application of the randomized within-patient controlled trial design were identified. Between-patient variability was quantified by the intraclass correlation coefficient and concordance in the primary fusion outcome. Sample size, study duration and costs were compared with a classic randomized controlled trial design. RESULTS Boundary conditions include the concurrent application of the experimental and control conditions to identical but physically separated sites. Moreover, the outcome of interest should be local, uncorrelated and independently assessable. The spinal fusion outcomes within a patient were found to be more similar than between different patients (intraclass correlation coefficient 32% and concordance 64%), demonstrating a clear effect of patient-related factors. The randomized within-patient controlled trial design allowed a reduction of the sample size to one-third of a parallel-group randomized controlled trial, thereby halving the trial duration and costs. CONCLUSION When suitable, the randomized within-patient controlled trial is an efficient design that provides a solution to some of the considerable challenges of a classic randomized controlled trial in (spine) surgery. This design holds specific promise for efficacy studies of non-active bone grafts in instrumented posterolateral fusion surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mechteld Lehr
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Rebecca K Stellato
- Department of Data Science and Biostatistics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René M Castelein
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - F Cumhur Oner
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Moyo C Kruyt
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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