TELEREHABILITATION VERSUS A DIGITAL BOOKLET FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN: STUDY PROTOCOL OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background

Neck pain is a common disabling condition that directly affects the performance of daily life activities and participation in professional, social and sports activities, being one of the main causes of functional disability in the world. Telerehabilitation-based treatments have demonstrated their importance due to their ease of use, low cost, and tendency to improve clinical outcomes. However, in the current scientific evidence, there is a lack of studies that exemplify telerehabilitation protocols in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Objectives

The study was to verify the effect of a telerehabilitation protocol versus an online self-care booklet in individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain.

Methods

This is a blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial that compares a telerehabilitation program for neck pain with a control group that will receive an online self-care booklet. Seventy patients will be recruited. Assessments and measures will perform before treatment, after 6 weeks and at 3 months after randomization. For this purpose, assessments and follow-ups will be carried out completely remotely, through online platforms (Google Meet, smartphone messages, email) and telephone calls. The primary outcome will be functional disability measured by the Neck Disability Index questionnaire consisting of 10 items. Secondary outcomes will be pain intensity measured using the numeric rating scale, perceived global effect measured using the perceived global exertion scale, patient self-efficacy using the Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire, quality of life using the SF-12, and kinesiophobia through the Scale of Kinesiophobia. This clinical trial was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (no. 5.458.454) and was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. RBR-10h7khvk).

Results

No results so far.

Conclusion

This study will examine whether the telerehabilitation treatment approach is superior to the self-care booklet in patients with chronic neck pain, functional disability, pain intensity, perceived global effect, patient self-efficacy, quality of life and kinesiophobia.

Implications

The study will impact clinical practice because telerehabilitation is a treatment option that aims to promote improvements in the functional disability and pain intensity of individuals with nonspecific chronic neck pain. This form of treatment appears as an alternative to ease the logistical and organizational conditions promoted by face-to-face care.