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  • Theory-driven group-based complex intervention to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain in primary care physiotherapy: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial (SOLAS)

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Health services research
Protocol
Theory-driven group-based complex intervention to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain in primary care physiotherapy: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial (SOLAS)
  1. Deirdre A Hurley1,
  2. Amanda M Hall2,
  3. Laura Currie-Murphy3,
  4. Tamar Pincus4,
  5. Steve Kamper5,
  6. Chris Maher5,
  7. Suzanne M McDonough6,
  8. Chris Lonsdale7,
  9. Nicola E Walsh8,
  10. Suzanne Guerin9,
  11. Ricardo Segurado10,
  12. James Matthews1,
  13. SOLAS Trial team
    1. 1Institute for Sport and Health and UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
    2. 2The George Institute for Global Health, Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
    3. 3Breast-Predict—Collaborative Cancer Research Centre, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
    4. 4Department of Psychology, University of London, Royal Holloway, London, UK
    5. 5The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    6. 6Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, UK
    7. 7Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, New South Wales, Australia
    8. 8Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
    9. 9UCD School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
    10. 10CSTAR and UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
    1. Correspondence to Dr Deirdre A Hurley; deirdre.hurleyosing{at}ucd.ie

    Abstract

    Introduction International clinical guidelines consistently endorse the promotion of self-management (SM), including physical activity for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and osteoarthritis (OA). Patients frequently receive individual treatment and advice to self-manage from physiotherapists in primary care, but the successful implementation of a clinical and cost-effective group SM programme is a key priority for health service managers in Ireland to maximise long-term outcomes and efficient use of limited and costly resources.

    Methods/analysis This protocol describes an assessor-blinded cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial of a group-based education and exercise intervention underpinned by self-determination theory designed to support an increase in SM behaviour in patients with CLBP and OA in primary care physiotherapy. The primary care clinic will be the unit of randomisation (cluster), with each clinic randomised to 1 of 2 groups providing the Self-management of Osteoarthritis and Low back pain through Activity and Skills (SOLAS) intervention or usual individual physiotherapy. Patients are followed up at 6 weeks, 2 and 6 months. The primary outcomes are the (1) acceptability and demand of the intervention to patients and physiotherapists, (2) feasibility and optimal study design/procedures and sample size for a definitive trial. Secondary outcomes include exploratory analyses of: point estimates, 95% CIs, change scores and effect sizes in physical function, pain and disability outcomes; process of change in target SM behaviours and selected mediators; and the cost of the intervention to inform a definitive trial.

    Ethics/dissemination This feasibility trial protocol was approved by the UCD Human Research Ethics—Sciences Committee (LS-13-54 Currie-Hurley) and research access has been granted by the Health Services Executive Primary Care Research Committee in January 2014. The study findings will be disseminated to the research, clinical and health service communities through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentation at national and international academic and clinical conferences.

    Trial registration number ISRCTN 49875385; Pre-results.

    • RHEUMATOLOGY
    • PAIN MANAGEMENT
    • PRIMARY CARE
    • REHABILITATION MEDICINE

    This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

    https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010728

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