NCT00000408

Brief Summary

Back pain is one of the most common of all symptoms. It is also a great cause of days lost from work and visits to health care providers. This study will develop and evaluate an approach to low back pain that allows subjects to talk with each other and with health professionals via an Internet discussion group. Results we will look at include health behaviors, such as exercise; health status, such as pain and disability; and health care use, such as number of visits to doctors and other health care providers. Anyone 18 years old or older who lives in the United States and has ongoing Internet access can take part in the study. All subjects must have back pain and meet the eligibility criteria listed below.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
580

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable low-back-pain

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 1998

Longer than P75 for not_applicable low-back-pain

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 1998

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 3, 1999

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 4, 1999

Completed
2.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 1, 2002

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 1, 2002

Completed
Last Updated

May 3, 2013

Status Verified

February 1, 2003

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

November 3, 1999

Last Update Submit

April 30, 2013

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

Health educationBack injuryChronic painEducation/evaluation planningOutcomes research

Study Arms (2)

email discussion group

EXPERIMENTAL
Procedure: Patient education evaluation

rancomized control group

NO INTERVENTION

usual care

Interventions

Patient education evaluationPROCEDURE
email discussion group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Must live in the United States
  • Must understand and write English
  • Must have access to a computer with e-mail and expect to have this access for at least 3 years
  • Must be 18 years old
  • Must have seen a doctor for back pain at least once in the past year

You may not qualify if:

  • Pregnancy
  • Back surgery in the past 6 months
  • Expectation of having back surgery in the next 6 months
  • Back pain due to a car accident or other major injury within the last 6 months
  • Back pain or sciatica due to systemic disease (inflammatory rheumatic diseases, tumor, or other)
  • Major physical or mental health condition for which one is currently being treated that severely limits daily activities
  • Terminal illness
  • Receiving disability or workers compensation insurance payments for back pain or sciatica
  • Presently involved in legal proceedings because of back pain or sciatica
  • Difficulty with bladder or bowel control that began with back pain or sciatica
  • No visits to a doctor in the past year for back pain or sciatica
  • Numbness in crotch area that began with back pain or sciatica
  • Age under 18

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Stanford University

Palo Alto, California, 94305, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Lorig KR, Laurent DD, Deyo RA, Marnell ME, Minor MA, Ritter PL. Can a Back Pain E-mail Discussion Group improve health status and lower health care costs?: A randomized study. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Apr 8;162(7):792-6. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.7.792.

    PMID: 11926853RESULT

  • Bruce B, Lorig K, Laurent D, Ritter P. The impact of a moderated e-mail discussion group on use of complementary and alternative therapies in subjects with recurrent back pain. Patient Educ Couns. 2005 Sep;58(3):305-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2004.08.012.

    PMID: 16122642RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back PainHealth EducationBack InjuriesChronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back PainPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsAdherence InterventionsMedication AdherencePatient CompliancePatient Acceptance of Health CareTreatment Adherence and ComplianceHealth BehaviorBehaviorWounds and Injuries

Study Officials

  • Kate R. Lorig, Dr.P.H.

    Stanford University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 1999

First Posted

November 4, 1999

Study Start

February 1, 1998

Primary Completion

February 1, 2002

Study Completion

February 1, 2002

Last Updated

May 3, 2013

Record last verified: 2003-02

Locations

US(1)