Montgomery Laura Rc, Kamper Steven J, Young Anika, Beynon Amber, Pohlman Katherine A, Hestbæk Lise, Hancock Mark J, French Simon D, Maher Christopher G, Swain Michael S
Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
BMJ Open. 2025 Jan 30;15(1):e088834. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088834.
Prospective feasibility study.
To inform the design and conduct of a large-scale clinical cohort study investigating adolescents with moderate-to-severe spinal pain.
Chiropractic care in Sydney, Australia.
Adolescents aged 12-17 years with spinal pain (≥4/10 pain intensity score).
Adolescents and chiropractors completed baseline and week-12 follow-up questionnaires, with adolescents reporting pain intensity and recovery weekly via text messages during weeks 1-11. Questionnaire measures included spinal pain, pain coping, quality of life, physical activity, clinical assessment findings and care delivered. Chiropractors provided usual clinical care. We conducted a descriptive feasibility analysis.
(1) Recruitment rate, (2) response rate to each data collection instrument and (3) retention rate.
From May 2021 to February 2023, 20 chiropractors from 10 clinics were enrolled (invited n=85). 10 chiropractors recruited 45 adolescents (15.4±1.4 years, 43% female) over 13.5 months, excluding an 8-month pause due to COVID-19 disruptions. The average recruitment rate was 0.6 adolescents/recruiting chiropractor/month. We achieved a 100% response to chiropractor baseline and follow-up questionnaires, 98% to adolescent baseline, 94% average response to combined weekly text messages and 93% retention of adolescents at study completion.
Our high response and retention rates demonstrate feasible data collection methods in this population. Addressing low recruitment by expanding the number and type of clinicians is necessary for a successful larger study.
前瞻性可行性研究。
为一项调查中重度脊柱疼痛青少年的大规模临床队列研究的设计和实施提供信息。
澳大利亚悉尼的整脊治疗。
年龄在12 - 17岁、有脊柱疼痛（疼痛强度评分≥4/10）的青少年。
青少年和整脊治疗师完成基线和第12周的随访问卷，青少年在第1 - 11周通过短信每周报告疼痛强度和恢复情况。问卷测量包括脊柱疼痛、疼痛应对、生活质量、身体活动、临床评估结果和提供的护理。整脊治疗师提供常规临床护理。我们进行了描述性可行性分析。
（1）招募率，（2）对每种数据收集工具的回复率，以及（3）保留率。
从2021年5月到2023年2月，来自10家诊所的20名整脊治疗师参与研究（邀请人数n = 85）。10名整脊治疗师在13.5个月内招募了45名青少年（年龄15.4±1.4岁，43%为女性），不包括因新冠疫情干扰而暂停的8个月。平均招募率为0.6名青少年/招募整脊治疗师/月。整脊治疗师基线和随访问卷的回复率达到100%，青少年基线问卷回复率为98%，每周短信综合回复率平均为94%，研究结束时青少年保留率为93%。
我们的高回复率和保留率表明在该人群中数据收集方法是可行的。为了成功开展更大规模的研究，有必要通过增加临床医生的数量和类型来解决招募率低的问题。
