The STarT MSK Trial version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Stratified Primary Care for Musculoskeletal Pain: The STarT MSK Trial [Patient facing name the TAPS study]
IRAS ID
186079
Contact name
Nadine Foster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN15366334
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 27 days
Research summary
Musculoskeletal pain such as back, knee, neck, shoulder, or multi-site pain is very common. It is the number one reason why people take time off work and accounts for a fifth of all GP consultations. Most people soon recover, however approximately a third of patients still report disabling pain one year after consulting their GP. Early identification of this group of patients as well as finding more effective treatments for them is a high priority. Stratified care involves GPs using a short questionnaire to help identify patients who are at risk of having persistent disabling pain and providing recommended matched treatment options. The STarT MSK trial aims to establish if stratified care is more clinically and cost effective compared to usual primary care for these common musculoskeletal conditions.
Approximately 24 GP practices in the UK will take part in the trial. Practices will be randomised to either provide stratified or usual care for patients with back, neck, knee, shoulder or multi-site pain. Patients aged 18 and over consulting at participating GP practices will be invited to take part in the TAPS study. The TAPS study involves completion of questionnaires and a medical record review so that the researchers can monitor patient outcomes and health care usage during the STarT MSK trial. Patients will be asked to complete a questionnaire shortly after visiting their GP, answer 3 short questions every month (via text or postal survey) and complete a final questionnaire 6 months after consulting their GP.
Consent will be sought to interview a small number of patients and healthcare professionals involved in the trial to explore contextual factors that may influence the acceptability of, and outcomes from, stratified care.
A linked PhD study focusing on older adults will involve interviews with a sample of patients and focus group of interviews with GP's.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0257
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion