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Trial registered on ANZCTR
Registration number
ACTRN12624001086550
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
14/08/2024
Date registered
9/09/2024
Date last updated
9/09/2024
Date data sharing statement initially provided
9/09/2024
Type of registration
Prospectively registered
Titles & IDs
Public title
HeLP (A Healthy Lifestyle program for Pain) for older people with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbid chronic disease risks
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Scientific title
HeLP (A Healthy Lifestyle program for Pain) for older people with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbid chronic disease risks
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Secondary ID [1]
312511
0
None
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Universal Trial Number (UTN)
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Trial acronym
HeLP for Older People
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Linked study record
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Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Low back pain
334780
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Hip pain
334781
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Knee pain
334782
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Condition category
Condition code
Musculoskeletal
331343
331343
0
0
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Osteoarthritis
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Musculoskeletal
331344
331344
0
0
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Other muscular and skeletal disorders
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Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
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Description of intervention(s) / exposure
The HeLP model of care is an evidence-based model of care that integrates the management of musculoskeletal conditions, pain education, behaviour change communication and support for chronic disease risk factors (excess weight, smoking, poor nutrition, risky alcohol intake, and physical inactivity), which are known to affect the prognosis of musculoskeletal conditions.
HeLP consists of two key elements, delivered over a six-month period:
i. Consultations with HeLP-trained clinicians over 12 weeks. Consultations are 20 to 60 minutes in duration.
An experienced physiotherapist will conduct a clinical assessment and provide condition specific advice and education, along with formative instructions about the coordinated care intervention. The advice will incorporate international guideline recommended education and reassurance, with explanation of the mechanisms by which weight loss and smoking cessation can improve symptoms and reduce health risks. Specifically, provision of advice aims to improve understanding of self-management principles for musculoskeletal conditions, reinforce the need to stay active or gradually increase activity, and avoid bed rest, along with a clinically delivered rationale for the treatment approaches.
ii. Integration and referral to ‘wrap-around’ health behaviour change support services (e.g., New South Wales ‘Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service’ (GHS) and Quitline).
All patients will be referred to a 3-month telephone-based weight management coaching program delivered by health professionals from the NSW GHS. Each session aims to assist patients to set goals regarding change in diet and physical activity and to overcome barriers to making such changes. All content and advice are provided according to standardised protocols and aligns with national diet and physical activity guidelines. All sessions will be based on self-regulation principles, including self-monitoring, goal setting, cognitive restructuring, problem solving, and environmental management. The sessions will assist patients to set goals, regarding the change in diet and physical activity and overcome barriers to making such changes. Timing of GHS calls will be at the discretion of the participant and the GHS coach.
Participants who smoke or report they have ‘quit’ in the last month, will be referred to the NSW Quitline. Quitline counsellors (advisors) who are trained in health/education/psychology and smoking cessation, will contact participants, and systematically record information on smoking history and previous quit attempts. Advisors encourage smokers to set a quit date, and assist in maximising success of quitting by guiding participants through evidence-based cessation methods with consideration of individual preferences and past history of quitting. Advisors also assist callers to deal with issues such as withdrawal symptoms. After the initial contact, and establishment of a quit date, participants will be phoned regularly throughout their Quit journey. Timing of Quitline calls will be at the discretion of the participant and the Quitline staff.
The primary physiotherapist delivering assessment, advice, and monitoring will act as a coordinated care liaison for the weight management and smoking programs. These strategies are aimed to enhance uptake and adherence.
The intervention for this trial is telehealth delivery.
The components of HeLP will be delivered via telehealth in shorter and more frequent consultations, allowing for a more uniform schedule of support and guidance. The telehealth model will involve 3-6 physiotherapy sessions (Week 1 [40mins], subsequent appointments [20mins]). The timing/frequency of the appointments will be individualised and at the discretion of the treating therapist and the participant; however, all sessions will be completed within the 12-week intervention period. The HeLP clinician will undertake a subjective and objective physiotherapy assessment as needed at each appointment to assist them with tracking achievements and progressing goals. All participants will be referred to appropriate wrap-around services. Advice relating to diet will be provided by the HeLP-trained physiotherapists and the health coaches from the wrap-around services. Telehealth physiotherapists will be provided with training related to nutrition and diet via a 30-minute training session delivered by a dietitian member of the project team. Any participants who require further dietary advice will be offered a referral to a dietitian member of the project team for a 30-minute telehealth consultation. Following the initial consultation, all participants will be posted a HeLP booklet containing goal-setting exercises and pain diaries and includes QR links to educational videos.
A number of strategies will be used to assess/monitor adherence to the intervention (e.g., fidelity checklists completed by HeLP clinicians after each appointment, Get Healthy Service engagement- calls completed and 'graduation' status from program, process evaluation with HeLP clinicians and participants following the trial), see outcomes for further details.
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Intervention code [1]
329279
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Lifestyle
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Intervention code [2]
329386
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Treatment: Other
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Comparator / control treatment
The HeLP model of care is an evidence-based model of care that integrates the management of musculoskeletal conditions, pain education, behaviour change communication and support for chronic disease risk factors (excess weight, smoking, poor nutrition, risky alcohol intake, and physical inactivity), which are known to affect the prognosis of musculoskeletal conditions.
HeLP consists of two key elements, delivered over a six-month period:
i. Consultations with HeLP-trained clinicians over 12 weeks. Consultations are 20 to 60 minutes in duration.
An experienced physiotherapist will conduct a clinical assessment and provide condition specific advice and education, along with formative instructions about the coordinated care intervention. The advice will incorporate international guideline recommended education and reassurance, with explanation of the mechanisms by which weight loss and smoking cessation can improve symptoms and reduce health risks. Specifically, provision of advice aims to improve understanding of self-management principles for musculoskeletal conditions, reinforce the need to stay active or gradually increase activity, and avoid bed rest, along with a clinically delivered rationale for the treatment approaches.
ii. Integration and referral to ‘wrap-around’ health behaviour change support services (e.g., New South Wales ‘Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service’ (GHS) and Quitline).
All patients will be referred to a 3-month telephone-based weight management coaching program delivered by health professionals from the NSW GHS. Each session aims to assist patients to set goals regarding change in diet and physical activity and to overcome barriers to making such changes. All content and advice are provided according to standardised protocols and aligns with national diet and physical activity guidelines. All sessions will be based on self-regulation principles, including self-monitoring, goal setting, cognitive restructuring, problem solving, and environmental management. The sessions will assist patients to set goals, regarding the change in diet and physical activity and overcome barriers to making such changes.
Participants who smoke or report they have ‘quit’ in the last month, will be referred to the NSW Quitline. Quitline counsellors (advisors) who are trained in health/education/psychology and smoking cessation, will contact participants, and systematically record information on smoking history and previous quit attempts. Advisors encourage smokers to set a quit date, and assist in maximising success of quitting by guiding participants through evidence-based cessation methods with consideration of individual preferences and past history of quitting. Advisors also assist callers to deal with issues such as withdrawal symptoms. After the initial contact, and establishment of a quit date, participants will be phoned regularly throughout their Quit journey.
The primary physiotherapist delivering assessment, advice, and monitoring will act as a coordinated care liaison for the weight management and smoking programs. These strategies are aimed to enhance uptake and adherence.
The comparator for this trial is face-to-face delivery.
Five clinical consultations (four physiotherapy consultations (Weeks 1 [60mins], 3 [30mins], 6 [30mins], 12 [30mins]), and one dietitian consultation (Week 3 [30mins])) will be delivered face-to-face by public hospital physiotherapists and dietitians, trained in the delivery of HeLP. The face-to-face delivery will be within the hospital outpatient department. At the initial consultation, all participants are provided with a HeLP booklet containing goal-setting exercises and pain diaries and includes QR links to educational videos. Participants will also be referred to the appropriate wrap-around services.
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Control group
Active
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Outcomes
Primary outcome [1]
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Pain Impact measure
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Assessment method [1]
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Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
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Timepoint [1]
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation. 26 weeks is the primary timepoint.
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Secondary outcome [1]
438564
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Weight
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Assessment method [1]
438564
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Objective weight measured to the nearest 0.1kg by a trained assessor using International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) procedures and a calibrated weighing scale.
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Timepoint [1]
438564
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Week 1 and 12 post-randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [2]
438565
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Weight
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Assessment method [2]
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Self-reported weight
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Timepoint [2]
438565
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [3]
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Disability
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Assessment method [3]
438566
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Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
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Timepoint [3]
438566
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [4]
438567
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Quality of Life
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Assessment method [4]
438567
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Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
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Timepoint [4]
438567
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [5]
438568
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Pain self-efficacy
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Assessment method [5]
438568
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2-item short form
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Timepoint [5]
438568
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [6]
438569
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Smoking/Vaping status
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Assessment method [6]
438569
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2 items from the NSW Health Survey (which describes smoking status and how many cigarettes smoked per day) + 2 questions relating to vaping/e-cigarette use
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Timepoint [6]
438569
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [7]
438570
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Physical Activity
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Assessment method [7]
438570
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Incidental and planned exercise questionnaire (IPEQ)
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Timepoint [7]
438570
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [8]
438571
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Nutrition
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Assessment method [8]
438571
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Australian Short Dietary Screener (AUS-SDS)
+ Usual intake of discretionary foods
+ How would you describe your dietary habits and intentions about having a healthy diet?
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Timepoint [8]
438571
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [9]
438572
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Alcohol consumption
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Assessment method [9]
438572
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Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) (0–12 scale)
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Timepoint [9]
438572
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [10]
438573
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Falls
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Assessment method [10]
438573
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Have you had any falls in the last 6 weeks? Yes/No
If yes- Open text questions:
1) How many falls have you had in this time?
2) Can you describe the cause of the falls?
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Timepoint [10]
438573
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [11]
438574
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Fear of falling
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Assessment method [11]
438574
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Short falls efficacy scale
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Timepoint [11]
438574
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [12]
438575
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Adverse Events (e.g., exacerbation of condition, falls)
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Assessment method [12]
438575
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Open-text question: ‘Have you developed any new medical conditions or an exacerbation of an existing condition?’
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Timepoint [12]
438575
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [13]
438576
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Health Economics
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Assessment method [13]
438576
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Self-reported health and home care utilisation and medication use. Intervention costs: staff time, phone calls, referral and written materials. GHS and Quitline costs: number and call duration. Self-reported work absenteeism, presenteeism
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Timepoint [13]
438576
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Secondary outcome [14]
438579
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Carbon Footprinting
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Assessment method [14]
438579
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Data will be collected from participants regarding travel to and from appointments, as well as other ‘costs’ that will be translated into carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq).
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Timepoint [14]
438579
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Baseline, 6, 12, 26 weeks post randomisation.
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Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
- Aged 65 years and over, with one of the following chronic musculoskeletal conditions (pain or disability due to osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, or non-specific low back pain) present for more than three months
- Pain intensity over the last week of greater than or equal to 3 on a 11-point numerical rating scale OR respond ‘moderately’, ‘quite a bit’ or ‘extremely’ when asked how much their condition interferes with completing normal daily activities
- At least one chronic disease risk factor: overweight or obese (Body Mass Index [BMI]
greater than 25kg/m2), participate in less than 30mins of physical activity on five days of the week, current smoker or vaper, eat less than two serves of fruits and/or less than five serves of vegetables per day (proxy of overall diet quality), or risky alcohol intake (assessed using AUDIT-C).
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Minimum age
65
Years
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Maximum age
No limit
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Sex
Both males and females
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Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
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Key exclusion criteria
- Previous bariatric weight loss surgery
- Currently undertaking weight loss or smoking cessation programme or care (e.g., dietetics for weight loss, Jenny Craig, Lite n’ Easy, Optifast, Weight Watchers, nicotine replacement therapy, Quitline).
- Orthopaedic surgery in the previous 6 months or planned surgery in the next 6 months
- Cannot actively engage in the intervention (e.g., unable to communicate, impaired cognition, use a telehealth service (including telephone) or attend appointments, adapt meals or exercise).
- Comorbidity that does not allow safe completion of study procedures (e.g., uncontrolled blood pressure or heart condition, uncontrolled diabetes or other complex dietary requirements).
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Study design
Purpose of the study
Treatment
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Allocation to intervention
Randomised controlled trial
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Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Central randomisation
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Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Permuted block randomisation
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Masking / blinding
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Who is / are masked / blinded?
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Intervention assignment
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Other design features
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Phase
Not Applicable
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Type of endpoint/s
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Statistical methods / analysis
The primary analysis will compare follow-up time-points between groups (primary endpoint 26 weeks post randomisation). We will use generalised mixed regression models with appropriate distribution and link functions to compare differences between groups at follow-up. We will obtain estimates of the effect of the intervention and 95% confidence intervals by constructing linear contrasts to compare the adjusted mean change (continuous variables) or difference in proportions (dichotomous variables) in outcomes from baseline to each time point between the groups.
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Recruitment
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
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Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/11/2024
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Actual
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Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
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Actual
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Date of last data collection
Anticipated
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Actual
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Sample size
Target
180
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Accrual to date
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Final
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Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
NSW
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Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1]
316935
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Charities/Societies/Foundations
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Name [1]
316935
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HCF Research Foundation
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Address [1]
316935
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Country [1]
316935
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Australia
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Primary sponsor type
Government body
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Name
Hunter New England Local Health District Population Health
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Address
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Country
Australia
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Secondary sponsor category [1]
319181
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University
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Name [1]
319181
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University of Sydney
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Address [1]
319181
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Country [1]
319181
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Australia
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Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
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Ethics committee name [1]
315685
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Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee
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Ethics committee address [1]
315685
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https://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/research-office/research_ethics
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Ethics committee country [1]
315685
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Australia
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Date submitted for ethics approval [1]
315685
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28/06/2024
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Approval date [1]
315685
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22/07/2024
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Ethics approval number [1]
315685
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2024/ETH01214
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Summary
Brief summary
Thousands of older Australians with hip, knee and low back pain are referred for surgical consultation, wait extended periods without alternative evidence-based care, and 75% have three or more chronic disease risks (e.g., overweight, smoker). We previously found a Healthy Lifestyle program for Pain (HeLP) reduced disability and improved quality of life. Now we seek to test the best method to scale up the program. We will test if the telehealth delivery of HeLP is as effective as face-to-face delivery on a range of patient-reported measures in older people with long-standing hip, knee and lower back pain. We expect to find similar results between groups.
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Trial website
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Trial related presentations / publications
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Public notes
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Contacts
Principal investigator
Name
135506
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Dr Simon Davidson
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Address
135506
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Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Longworth Ave, Wallsend NSW 2287
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Country
135506
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Australia
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Phone
135506
0
+61 02 9351 9923
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Fax
135506
0
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Email
135506
0
[email protected]
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Contact person for public queries
Name
135507
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Simon Davidson
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Address
135507
0
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Longworth Ave, Wallsend NSW 2287
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Country
135507
0
Australia
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Phone
135507
0
+61 02 9351 9923
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Fax
135507
0
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Email
135507
0
[email protected]
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Contact person for scientific queries
Name
135508
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Simon Davidson
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Address
135508
0
Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Longworth Ave, Wallsend NSW 2287
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Country
135508
0
Australia
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Phone
135508
0
+61 02 9351 9923
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Fax
135508
0
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Email
135508
0
[email protected]
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Data sharing statement
Will individual participant data (IPD) for this trial be available (including data dictionaries)?
Yes
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What data in particular will be shared?
De-identified individual participant data collected during the trial
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When will data be available (start and end dates)?
Start- Immediately following publication
End- 5 years following main results publication
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Available to whom?
Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal that is approved by the Principal Investigator (
[email protected]
)
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Available for what types of analyses?
Only to achieve the aims in the approved proposal
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How or where can data be obtained?
Access subject to approvals by Principal Investigator (
[email protected]
)
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What supporting documents are/will be available?
No Supporting Document Provided
Results publications and other study-related documents
Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.
Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.
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