Alberta Chiropractic SelfBack Study

NCT06347991 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Pro00140155
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Recurrent and persistent low back pain (LBP) is a massive problem in Canada that causes a substantial pain, disability, cost, and even premature death. The good news is that treatments for recurrent and persistent LBP are available. Many guidelines now recommend education and exercise as the best intervention for chronic LBP. Unfortunately, education and exercise programs are not publicly funded in Canada-only Canadians with extended health benefits can access these programs. As a result, the 50% of Canadians who do not have extended health benefits often seek care for LBP from their publicly funded physicians. Physicians, in turn, have little choice but to reach for what they have available, including opioids, x-rays and referrals to specialists. Not only are these interventions unhelpful for chronic LBP, they are often harmful, sometimes deadly, and disproportionately affect lower socio-economic status households. A possible solution to this problem exists in a validated app (SelfBack) that provides tailored self-management plans consisting of advice on physical activity, physical exercises, and educational content. Tailoring of treatment plans to individuals is achieved by using case-based reasoning (CBR) methodology which is a branch of artificial intelligence. This study will evaluate the feasibility of distributing the SelfBack app to persons experiencing LBP through their chiropractors. The results of this study will help us understand the barriers and facilitators of distributing and using the app through Alberta Chiropractors. This information will be used to apply for funding for a larger study to understand the effectiveness of the app as an intervention for persistent and recurrent LBP.

Conditions

Chronic Low-back Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The percentage of patients who utilize the SelfBack app

  Success will be defined as 50% of patients using the app

  8 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• The percentage of clinicians who utilize the SelfBack app

  8 months

Study Arms (1)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Those who receive the SelfBack app

Behavioral: SelfBack

Interventions

SelfBack BEHAVIORAL

The SelfBack app is a promising decision support system (DSS) App used globally to support and reinforce desired self-management behavior for LBP. Selfback's program goal is to improve the self-management of nonspecific LBP to reduce pain-related disability.

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Practicing chiropractor in Alberta.
• Will have access to ATLAS, ChiroSUITE, or Jane software packages
• Must have completed and filed a Privacy Impact Assessment with the Government of Alberta, as identified under the Health Information Act.
• Connected to Alberta's electronic health record, Netcare
• Patients of enrolled chiropractors having persistent and/or recurrent LBP defined as those currently having LBP that has impacted daily activities for \> 1 month. I
• Alberta resident 18 years of age or older
• Must have a personal smartphone with internet access.
• Must have a working e-mail address.
• Must speak, read, and write English or have regular access to persons who can assist in this regard.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients who have complex back pain that requires direct clinical oversight.
• Patients with cognitive impairments or learning disabilities that limit participation.
• Patients with serious mental illness.
• Patients who have non-LBP illnesses or conditions that are contraindicated to participation in SelfBack (e.g. exercise).
• Patients who have terminal illness
• Patients who are unable to take part in exercise/physical activity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alberta: lead
• Chiropractic Association of Alberta: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Greg Kawchuk, PhD

CONTACT

780-492-6891; greg.kawchuk@ualberta.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2024
• First Posted: April 4, 2024
• Study Start: May 24, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 15, 2026
• Study Completion: March 15, 2026
• Last Updated: April 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)