NCT01690234

Brief Summary

In Denmark the number of patients, sick listed for more than four weeks is increasing, and patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders make one third of the total amount of long-term absenteeism. Compared to other diagnoses, patients suffering from musculoskeletal diseases, including low back pain, are less likely to return to work after a period of sick leave. It seems that a multidisciplinary intervention, including cooperation between the health sector, the social sector and in the work place, has a positive effect on days off work due to musculoskeletal disorders and particularly low back pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a work oriented multidisciplinary intervention. A randomized controlled trial will include 770 patients with low back pain. The study population consists of patients, who are sick listed or at risk of sick leave due to LBP. The control group is treated with usual care in a team with participation of a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, a rheumatologist and a local employed social worker The Intervention group is treated with usual care and in addition intervention of a psychologist, an occupational physician, an ergonomist and a social worker from the local sickness benefit office. The treating physiotherapist will be the RTW-coordinator. Outcome will be reported at the end of treatment as well as 6 and 12 months follow up. The primary outcome is number of days of work. Secondary outcomes are disability, pain, and quality of life. This large RCT study is testing the effectiveness of a preventive intervention targeting patients on short term sick leave or at risk being sick listed because of low back pain. We have developed a novel multidisciplinary team structure using the treating physiotherapist as the return to work coordinator, and having the case manager from the sickness benefit office participating in team meetings.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
770

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable low-back-pain

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2009

Longer than P75 for not_applicable low-back-pain

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

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

September 1, 2009

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2012

Completed
18 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 19, 2012

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 21, 2012

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 1, 2014

Completed
Last Updated

September 21, 2012

Status Verified

September 1, 2012

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

September 19, 2012

Last Update Submit

September 19, 2012

Conditions

Keywords

Low back painReturn to workSickness absenceRehabilitationMultidisciplinary intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Number of days off work

    12 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Disability

    12 months

Study Arms (2)

Multidisciplinary intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Early coordinated multidisciplinary intervention. Physiotherapist, chiropractor, rheumatologist, psychologist, occupational physician, ergonomist and social worker/case manager.

Procedure: Multidisciplinary intervention

Usual care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Intervention from physiotherapist, chiropractor, rheumatologist and social worker.

Procedure: Usual care

Interventions

Early coordinated multidisciplinary intervention. Physiotherapist, chiropractor, rheumatologist, psychologist, occupational physician, ergonomist and social worker/case manager.

Multidisciplinary intervention
Usual carePROCEDURE

Intervention from physiotherapist, chiropractor, rheumatologist and social worker.

Usual care

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Working age adults 18-65
  • Low back pain (longer than 2 weeks)
  • Sicklisted or at risk
  • Employed or unemployed

You may not qualify if:

  • Severe comorbidity
  • Pregnancy
  • Difficulties in reading Danish language
  • Application for early retirement

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Back and Rehabilitation Center Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

  • Fisker A, Langberg H, Petersen T, Mortensen OS. Effects of an early multidisciplinary intervention on sickness absence in patients with persistent low back pain-a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Sep 10;23(1):854. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05807-7.

  • Fisker A, Langberg H, Petersen T, Mortensen OS. Early coordinated multidisciplinary intervention to prevent sickness absence and labour market exclusion in patients with low back pain: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013 Mar 13;14:93. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-93.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back PainPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Tom Petersen, PT, PhD

    Back and Rehabilitaion Center Copenhagen

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Annette Fisker, PT, PhDstud

    University of Copenhagen, Department of Public Health

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tom Petersen, PT, PhD

CONTACT

Inge Lis Goethgen, Head

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER GOV
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Physiotherapist

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 19, 2012

First Posted

September 21, 2012

Study Start

September 1, 2009

Primary Completion

September 1, 2012

Study Completion

October 1, 2014

Last Updated

September 21, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-09

Locations