The STarT Back Programme: The Perspectives of ‘Low Risk’ Participants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The STarT Back Programme: The Perspectives of ‘Low Risk’ Participants.
IRAS ID
182547
Contact name
Kieran Barnard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The ‘STarT Back’ is a 9 point prognostic screening tool used to identify individuals at ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ risk of their back pain becoming persistent (chronic). The tool is used to direct each group to an appropriate therapeutic intervention. Those at ‘low risk’ of chronicity attend a single education session whilst those at ‘medium’ or ‘high risk’ are offered standard physiotherapy or an enhanced package of care including psychological support respectively.
Research has shown that participants of the STarT Back programme as a whole show a significantly greater improvement in disability scores when compared to standard physiotherapy care (as measured by Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) at 4 and 12 months follow up. The efficacy of the programme for the ‘low-risk’ group specifically is however less clear as disability scores were not significantly different to standard physiotherapy at 4 and 12 months follow up. The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the perspectives of ‘low-risk’ participants taking part in the programme.
Not more than ten participants over the age of 18 will be recruited from a well-established STarT Back programme in North Hampshire. The methodology will use a constructivist grounded theory approach. Semi-structured audio-taped interviews will be carried out either face-to-face, via skype or over the telephone. Interviews will take no longer than one hour. Interview data will be transcribed and analysed using the constant comparative method of analysis and memo writing.
By exploring the perspectives of ‘low risk’ participants of the STarT Back programme it is hoped that a set of theoretical constructs will be developed for understanding why the STarT Back programme was not as effective as expected in the ‘low risk’ population. An improved understanding of how best to manage those at ‘low risk’ of chronicity may be of clinical and financial benefit to the NHS.REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0467
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion