Consumer focused education on paracetamol side effects, inadequate outcomes and weaning for individuals with low back pain: protocol for a feasibility study

Authors

  • Thomas Patterson Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Western Avenue, Camperdown, Australia
  • Justin Turner Turner Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Canada
  • Danijela Gnjidic School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Western Avenue, Camperdown, Australia
  • Barbara Mintzes School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Western Avenue, Camperdown, Australia
  • Melissa Baysari The University of Sydney, Discipline of Biomedical Informatics and Digital Health, Medicine and Health, Charles Perkins Centre, John Hopkins Drive, Camperdown, Australia
  • Carol Bennett CEO, Painaustralia, Deakin, Australia
  • Lisa Bywaters Consumer Services for Musculoskeletal Australia, Australia
  • Ornella Clavisi Consumer Services for Musculoskeletal Australia, Australia
  • Manuela Ferreira Institute of Bone and Joint, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Paula Beckenkamp Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Western Avenue, Camperdown, Australia
  • Paulo Ferreira Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Western Avenue, Camperdown, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20214108

Keywords:

Consumer, Deprescribing, Education, Low back pain, Paracetamol

Abstract

Background: Prescription and over the counter medications, such as paracetamol, account for a significant proportion of the direct and indirect costs in managing low back pain (LBP). Existing research has not only questioned the efficacy of paracetamol use for musculoskeletal conditions such as LBP, but also its safety. No previous study has investigated the feasibility of a pharmacological education tool for individuals using paracetamol to manage their LBP. The aims of this study are to investigate: (1) the acceptability and experience of participants with the pharmacological education tool, (2) feasibility of recruitment, data collection and outcome measure completion, and (3) participant’s willingness to participate in a randomised control trial.

Methods: This will be a single group repeated measures study design recruiting individuals from community organisations. Included participants will be over 18 years, experiencing acute, chronic or recurrent episodes of LBP and self-report consumption of paracetamol for pain relief weekly for at least one month. This study will be open for recruitment from June 2021 to August 2021.

Conclusions: Our findings will inform the feasibility of conducting a larger randomised controlled trial. This study will be judged as feasible to proceed to a full trial based if, 1) recruitment sources are each able to enrol at least 20 participants into the study within three months of initial advertisement, 2) the majority of participants find the study and intervention experience as acceptable, and 3) there is less than 20% of missing data for the primary outcomes, and a minimum of 85% follow-up rate for enrolled participants.

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Published

2021-10-22