Access to Chiropractic Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This is a prospective comparative cohort trial taking place during the first year of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic in Spain. Chiropractic patients throughout Spain were invited to participate independently of the care received, including patients who had stopped visiting their chiropractors since the pandemic hit. The main exposure variable is the access to chiropractic care services, and the degree of this exposure during the months following initial lockdown phase in Spain. Participants will fill an online questionnaire with self-reported outcome-measures.

Official Title
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Access to Chiropractic Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Prospective Comparative Cohort Trial

Conditions
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Access to Chiropractic Care Services

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Chiropractic care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: chiropractic patients with pain, active when lockdown was declared, over the age of 16 Exclusion Criteria: new patients in the clinic after the pandemic hit

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No access<br>Group not accessing chiropractic care | |
| Access to care<br>Group with access to care in a 6 months period. Differences in the degree of access, measured in ranges of numbers of visits, will be used as independent variable within this group. | Other: Chiropractic care<br>* Care provided by chiropractors, based on manual therapy, exercise prescription and patient advice/education/reassurance<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain intensity | Numerical Rating Scale (0-10, 0=no pain, 10=maximum pain) | 6 months | 
| Pain duration | Duration of pain symptoms, PREVIOUS to the study, measured in months (up to 3 months, more than 3 months) | 6 months | 
| Pain frequency | Ranges: Constant, every day, every week, occasionally | 6 months | 
| Pain perceived improvement | Categories: New pain, worsened, no change, improv, gone | 6 months | 
| Pain interference | From the Brief Pain Inventory (7 items, 0-10: 0= minimal score, 70=maximal score) | 6 months | 
| Pain Catastrophizing Scale | Validated questionnaire (short version 4 items, 1-4: 4= minimal score, 16=maximal score) | 6 months | 
| Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia | Validated questionnaire (short version 11 items, 0-3: 0=minimal score, 33=maximal score) | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General Anxiety Disorder scale | Validated questionnaire (7 items , 1-3: 1= minimal score, 21=maximal score) | 6 months | 
| Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation | Questionnaire (12 items, 1-4: 1=minimal score, 48=maximal score) | 6 months |