Effect of Self-management Intervention on Pain Intensity and Functional Disability in Adolescent Patients With Low Back Pain
Condition: Low Back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain; Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Low back pain (LBP) is prevalent among adolescents from the general population and in general
      practice. Not only is LBP associated with pain and functional limitation among patients, also
      the socioeconomic burden of the condition is substantial worldwide. Chronic cases of LBP are
      not uncommon in adolescents, especially among those whose parents are suffering from chronic
      pain. Several individual factors influence LBP among adolescents. Especially previous
      episodes of LBP, low pain self-efficacy levels and worries about LBP has been identified as
      worsening factors in regard to pain and disability.

      At present there is little evidence to inform a large randomized experimental study to
      investigate the effect of a given treatment modality in this group of young patients.
      Furthermore, it remains to be investigated if individual factors, such as, pain self-efficacy
      levels and worries about LBP may mediate the effect of a behavioral intervention regarding
      pain and disability. However, the single case experimental design allows for close monitoring
      of the patients during a controlled treatment course. As such, the single case experimental
      design study can provide vital and fundamental knowledge regarding treatment effect and
      mediating factors in relation to an intervention aimed at improving self-management in
      adolescent LBP patients.

      This study aims to investigate the effect of an intervention to improve self-management among
      adolescent LBP patients assessed by pain intensity and functional disability in a single case
      experimental design. We further aimed to investigate if LBP related worries and pain
      self-efficacy would mediate the effect of the intervention. We hypothesized that the
      self-management intervention would lead to lower pain intensity scores and decrease
      disability levels on a patient level.
    


Intervention name(s): Self-management intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The procedure will be based on the A - B - A'/B' design. After recruitment, patients will attend an initial session with CLS where written and oral information about the study will be provided. In this study, the A phase will serve as baseline to establish fluctuation in pain intensity prior to initiating the treatment.
During phase A, patients will be assessed every day for a minimum of 8 days and maximum of 14 days.
During phase B, CLS will facilitate the intervention based on the initial session, pain levels during phase A and the patients' goals. During phase B, patients will attend a 1-hour weekly session over 6 weeks.
During phase A', the participants will be followed weekly for 12 weeks. During the phase A', participants will not receive treatment.
Phase B' contains 3 x 1 hour criterion-based booster sessions which are delivered over 3 consecutive weeks.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: Single subject experimental design
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment