In the United States, low back pain (LBP) is the second most common symptom leading patients to seek medical care, and is the second leading cause of work days lost, after the common cold. While a number of treatment alternatives are available for LBP, it is unclear which is most effective. The goal of this prospective randomized multi-site clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of flexion-distraction therapy with physical therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain. The objective of this presentation is to report on the ground activities of collaboration, personnel needed, costs encumbered, and the logistics of team effort to conduct a multi-site feasibility study.
Our initial strategy of collaboration between chiropractic and allopathic institutions started with basic scientists willing to undertake biomechanical studies. The success of the initial biomechanical studies led to studies on patients and ultimately clinical trial.
Over the course of the eight years of collaboration, resulted in commitments from both institutions and has shared costs to conduct the study. This presentation will focus on the multi-disciplinary personnel involved in conducting such a clinical study, problems encountered and successes. The authors acknowledge the financial support of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) via grant # 2 R18 AH10001
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives for this presentation will include: (1) Strategies for developing collaborative studies between chiropractic and allopathic investigators (2) Evaluation of the logistics of conducting a multi-site, interdisciplinary study, and (3) Evaluation of the personnel needed and costs encumbered to conduct a multi-disciplinary clinical trial
Keywords: Chiropractic, Medical Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.