Overview
The goal of this two-group randomized trial is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a remotely-delivered health coaching intervention offered in conjunction with usual care for patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic low back pain who present to the emergency department (ED).
The main questions this feasibility trial aims to answer are:
- Is our health coaching intervention and randomized trial methodology feasible to conduct?
- Is our health coaching intervention acceptable to participants and ED providers?
Participants will be randomized to one of two groups (usual ED care plus health coaching or usual ED care plus education) and complete outcome assessments at 3 and 6 months after ED discharge. Participants and ED providers will also complete an interview.
Description
This study is a two-group randomized feasibility trial of usual ED care plus either remote health coaching or remote education in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic low back pain presenting to the ED. We hypothesize that our health coaching intervention and randomized trial methodology will be feasible and that our health coaching intervention will be acceptable to participants and ED providers.
Forty participants will be randomized (20 per group), with 36 (90%) retained in the trial up to 6 months follow-up. Eligible patients presenting to the ED with a chief complaint of acute exacerbation of chronic low back pain will be randomized. Patients will be enrolled during or shortly after their ED visit, asked to complete a baseline questionnaire, and then randomized. Randomized participants will receive 8 calls from either a health coach or education provider, and be asked to complete assessments at 3 and 6 months after ED discharge. Interviews will be conducted with randomized participants and 15 ED providers asking about their experience with the intervention.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Chief complaint of musculoskeletal LBP
- Meets NIH-supported chronic LBP criterion (e.g., pain greater than 3 months that has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months)
- Age 18 years of age or older
- English-speaking
Exclusion Criteria:
- Requires hospitalization for an acute medical condition or active comorbidity
- In the opinion of the investigator has a severe psychiatric or behavioral diagnosis or substance use disorder that would interfere with the ability to perform the intervention and complete follow-up
- Involved in litigation related to the LBP condition