IMPaCT Back
Chief Investigator: |
Prof Elaine Hay |
Principal Investigator: |
Prof Nadine Foster |
Study Co-ordinator: |
Dr Jonathan Hill, Dr Ricky Mullis |
Funder name / reference number: | Health Foundation Ref ID 346/4540, Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (07/H1017/143) |
UKCRN Study portfolio: | ISRCTN55174281 |
Year | 2009-2012 |
Study design
The IMPaCT Back Study (IMplementation to improve Patient Care through Targeted treatment) prospectively compared separate patient cohorts in a preintervention phase (6 months of usual care) and a postintervention phase (12 months of stratified care) in family practice, involving 64 family physicians and linked physical therapy services. A total of 1,647 adults with low back pain were invited to participate.
Primary objective
We aimed to determine the effects of implementing risk-stratified care for low back pain in family practice on physician’s clinical behaviour, patient outcomes, and costs.
Interventions
Stratified care entailed use of a risk stratification tool to classify patients into groups at low, medium, or high risk for persistent disability and provision of risk-matched treatment.