Sciatica Musculoskeletal Diseases Sciatica
Conditions
Interventions
1. Usual non-stratified care. Participants randomised to this arm will receive usual, non-stratified care. They will be seen by a physiotherapist for one off assessment and treatment including educati
Sponsors
Keele University (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 18 years and over 2. Consulting in general practice with back and/or leg symptoms, and GP suspects sciatica 3. Following clinical assessment in research clinics, have a clinical diagnosis of sciatica 4. Have a mobile phone that can receive and send SMS texts or have access to a land-line telephone 5. Able to read and communicate in English (to give full informed consent and to complete the baseline and outcome assessments) 6. Willing to participate
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Have suspected serious spinal pathology or ?red-flags? (eg. cauda equina syndrome, suspicion of spinal tumours, infection, fractures, inflammatory spondyloarthopathy) 2. Have had any previous lumbar spine surgery 3. Are currently receiving ongoing care from or have been in consultation with a secondary care doctor or physiotherapist for the same problem in the last 3 months 4. Have serious co-morbidity preventing them from attending the research clinic and/or been able to undergo assessment and potentially interventions 5. Have severe enduring mental health condition 6. Are currently pregnant 7. Are currently participating in any other research study because they have symptoms of back and leg pain or sciatica
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Time to resolution of sciatica symptoms measured on a 6-point ordered categorical scale. Data will be collected by weekly SMS text messages for the first 4 months, then from months 4 to 12 the SMS data collection will change to monthly, or until patients report on two consecutive occasions that they have recovered. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Leg and back usual pain severity is measured using pain intensity of back and leg pain at baseline, 4 and 12 months 2. Disability is measured using Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire at baseline, 4 and 12 months 3. Overall impact of sciatica symptoms is measured using Sciatica Bothersomeness Index at baseline, 4 and 12 months 4. Sleep disturbance is measured using Jenkins sleep questionnaire at baseline, 4 and 12 months 5. Fear of movement is measured using Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia at baseline, 4 and 12 months 6. Anxiety and depression is measured using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline, 4 and 12 months 7. Risk of poor outcome is measured using STarT Back Tool at baseline, 4 and 12 months 8. Quality of life is measured using EQ5D-5L at baseline, 4 and 12 months 9. General health is measured using SF-1 at baseline, 4 and 12 months 10. Neuropathic pain scales is measured using S-LANSS at baseline, 4 and 12 months 11. Days lost from work and productivity loss due to sciatica is measured using Questions on employment status and work absence (days) at 0, 4 & 12 months 12. Pain medication is measured using Patient Questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months 13. Adverse events are measured using clinicians and Patient Questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months 14. Patient satisfaction with care is measured using 5-point scale at baseline, 4 and 12 months 15. Health economic measures and health utilisation is measured using EQ-5D-5L at baseline, 4 and 12 months | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed