The IMPACT of a Referral Model for Axial Spondyloarthritis in Young Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT01944163

Last Updated: 2015-11-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

850 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-09-30

Study Completion Date

2017-11-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Rationale: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory back pain disorder affecting up to 24% of young chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. For general practitioners (GPs) it is difficult to distinguish axSpA patients in the large amount of CLBP patients. In previous studies a referral rule for axSpA applicable in CLBP patients was developed and validated. The next step is to investigate the impact of the referral rule in daily practice. This impact analysis will test if the referral rule will be beneficial or harmful.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of a referral rule in young patients presenting at the general practitioners with chronic low back pain, who are at risk for axSpA, compared to usual care.

Study design: A cluster randomized clinical trial. Study population: Primary care patients with chronic low back pain, aged 18-45 years.

Intervention (if applicable): GPs are randomized in clusters either to use directly the referral rule or use the referral rule after 4 months. The referral rule consists out of four variables, a positive ASAS inflammatory back pain questionnaire, a positive family history for spondyloarthritis, a good reaction to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and back pain duration longer than 5 years. If at least two out of four variables are present a referral to the rheumatologist is advised.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome is a change in the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) compared to baseline in the CLBP patients with or without use of the referral model.

Secondary parameters: Quality of life measurements, cost-effectiveness, pain and fatigue and referral to rheumatologist and diagnosis of axSpA.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness:

The burden and risks associated with participation are minimal. No medical intervention is taken place. If the GP of the patients is randomized to the referral model, the patient is checked for the risk of axial spondyloarthritis, by the non-invasive referral model. If the referral model is positive a referral to the rheumatologist is advised. Is the GP is randomized to the 'usual care' there is no difference in the treatment of low back pain than nowadays. A GP is still allowed to treat the CLBP patients optimal and a referral to the rheumatologist is allowed but not actively advised.

All participating CLBP patients are asked to fill several questionnaires at four different time points, at baseline, after 12 months and after 24 months. In total there are 8 questionnaires and four separate questions. The questionnaire are designed to fill out by the patient themselves. The total time to fill in the questionnaire is estimated to be 30 minutes.

The benefits of the study are:

* For the CLBP patients, up to 24% of the back pain complaints are caused by axSpA, but the GPs are not (yet) aware of this disease. When a CLBP patient is participating in this study, the chance of having axSpA as cause for the back pain is investigated. This a benefit for a CLBP patients since there is effective treatment for axSpA.
* For the GP it is very difficult to distinguish an axSpA patients in the large amount of CLBP patients. If it appears that the validated referral rule has an impact on CLBP and GPs, the next step will be implementation of this referral model in daily practice and it will become a helpful tool for the GP.
* For the society, CLBP is a great socioeconomic burden for the society. When one of the causes for CLBP, namely axSpA is diagnosed and treated in an earlier stage this will lead to a decreased sick leave because of back pain and is therefore potentially cost-effective.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Chronic Low Back Pain Axial Spondyloarthritis

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Usual care

GP provide care as usual to their CLBP patients.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Referral arm

GP are randomized in clusters either to use or not to use the CaFaSpA referral model. The CaFaSpA referral models consists out of four variables, a positive ASAS IBP questionnaire, a positive family history for SpA, a good reaction to NSAIDs and back pain duration longer than 5 years. If at least two out of four variables are present a referral to the rheumatologist is advised.

Group Type OTHER

Applying a referral model

Intervention Type OTHER

GP are randomized in clusters either to use or not to use the CaFaSpA referral model. The CaFaSpA referral models consists out of four variables, a positive ASAS IBP questionnaire, a positive family history for SpA, a good reaction to NSAIDs and back pain duration longer than 5 years. If at least two out of four variables are present a referral to the rheumatologist is advised.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Applying a referral model

GP are randomized in clusters either to use or not to use the CaFaSpA referral model. The CaFaSpA referral models consists out of four variables, a positive ASAS IBP questionnaire, a positive family history for SpA, a good reaction to NSAIDs and back pain duration longer than 5 years. If at least two out of four variables are present a referral to the rheumatologist is advised.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 18-45 years
* Coded by the GP with ICPC L03, standing for non-specific low back pain
* \> 12 weeks of low back pain
* Mentally competent
* Understanding of the Dutch language (written)
* Willing to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• A cause for the back pain (like trauma, hernia nuclei pulposi, malignancy, etc)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Maasstad Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

A.E.A.M. Weel

Dr.

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Angelique Weel, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Maasstad Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Maasstad Hospital

Rotterdam, , Netherlands

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Netherlands

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Jamal M, Korver AM, Kuijper M, Lopes Barreto D, Appels CWY, Spoorenberg APL, Koes BW, Hazes JMW, Hoeven LV, Weel AEAM. The IMPACT study: A clustered randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a referral algorithm for axial spondyloarthritis. PLoS One. 2020 Jan 28;15(1):e0227025. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227025. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 31990912 (View on PubMed)

van Hoeven L, Vergouwe Y, Koes BW, Hazes JM, Weel AE. Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate a referral strategy for axial spondyloarthritis in young primary care patients with chronic low back pain; an impact study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Jul 12;17:278. doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-1132-6.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 27405752 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2013-003838-32

Identifier Type: EUDRACT_NUMBER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

impact-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id