Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A substantial proportion of patients with whiplash injuries develop chronic symptoms. However, the best treatment of acute injuries to prevent long-term problems is uncertain. A stepped care treatment pathway has been proposed, in wh...

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Main Authors: Williamson Esther M, Williams Mark A, Szczepura Ala, Ashby Deborah, Cooke Matthew W, Underwood Martin R, Gates Simon, Lamb Sarah E, Withers Emma J, Mt Isa Shahrul, Gumber Anil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-01-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/8/7
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author Williamson Esther M
Williams Mark A
Szczepura Ala
Ashby Deborah
Cooke Matthew W
Underwood Martin R
Gates Simon
Lamb Sarah E
Withers Emma J
Mt Isa Shahrul
Gumber Anil
author_facet Williamson Esther M
Williams Mark A
Szczepura Ala
Ashby Deborah
Cooke Matthew W
Underwood Martin R
Gates Simon
Lamb Sarah E
Withers Emma J
Mt Isa Shahrul
Gumber Anil
author_sort Williamson Esther M
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A substantial proportion of patients with whiplash injuries develop chronic symptoms. However, the best treatment of acute injuries to prevent long-term problems is uncertain. A stepped care treatment pathway has been proposed, in which patients are given advice and education at their initial visit to the emergency department (ED), followed by review at three weeks and physiotherapy for those with persisting symptoms. MINT is a two-stage randomised controlled trial to evaluate two components of such a pathway: 1. use of The Whiplash Book versus usual advice when patients first attend the emergency department; 2. referral to physiotherapy versus reinforcement of advice for patients with continuing symptoms at three weeks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Evaluation of the Whiplash Book versus usual advice uses a cluster randomised design in emergency departments of eight NHS Trusts. Eligible patients are identified by clinicians in participating emergency departments and are sent a study questionnaire within a week of their ED attendance. Three thousand participants will be included. Patients with persisting symptoms three weeks after their ED attendance are eligible to join an individually randomised study of physiotherapy versus reinforcement of the advice given in ED. Six hundred participants will be randomised. Follow-up is at 4, 8 and 12 months after their ED attendance. Primary outcome is the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and secondary outcomes include quality of life and time to return to work and normal activities. An economic evaluation is being carried out.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper describes the protocol and operational aspects of a complex intervention trial based in NHS emergency and physiotherapy departments, evaluating two components of a stepped-care approach to the treatment of whiplash injuries. The trial uses two randomisations, with the first stage being cluster randomised and the second individually randomised.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-cad97dcc10cd4eb9a019807de98e9a392022-12-21T23:13:45ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742007-01-0181710.1186/1471-2474-8-7Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disordersWilliamson Esther MWilliams Mark ASzczepura AlaAshby DeborahCooke Matthew WUnderwood Martin RGates SimonLamb Sarah EWithers Emma JMt Isa ShahrulGumber Anil<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A substantial proportion of patients with whiplash injuries develop chronic symptoms. However, the best treatment of acute injuries to prevent long-term problems is uncertain. A stepped care treatment pathway has been proposed, in which patients are given advice and education at their initial visit to the emergency department (ED), followed by review at three weeks and physiotherapy for those with persisting symptoms. MINT is a two-stage randomised controlled trial to evaluate two components of such a pathway: 1. use of The Whiplash Book versus usual advice when patients first attend the emergency department; 2. referral to physiotherapy versus reinforcement of advice for patients with continuing symptoms at three weeks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Evaluation of the Whiplash Book versus usual advice uses a cluster randomised design in emergency departments of eight NHS Trusts. Eligible patients are identified by clinicians in participating emergency departments and are sent a study questionnaire within a week of their ED attendance. Three thousand participants will be included. Patients with persisting symptoms three weeks after their ED attendance are eligible to join an individually randomised study of physiotherapy versus reinforcement of the advice given in ED. Six hundred participants will be randomised. Follow-up is at 4, 8 and 12 months after their ED attendance. Primary outcome is the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and secondary outcomes include quality of life and time to return to work and normal activities. An economic evaluation is being carried out.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper describes the protocol and operational aspects of a complex intervention trial based in NHS emergency and physiotherapy departments, evaluating two components of a stepped-care approach to the treatment of whiplash injuries. The trial uses two randomisations, with the first stage being cluster randomised and the second individually randomised.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/8/7
spellingShingle Williamson Esther M
Williams Mark A
Szczepura Ala
Ashby Deborah
Cooke Matthew W
Underwood Martin R
Gates Simon
Lamb Sarah E
Withers Emma J
Mt Isa Shahrul
Gumber Anil
Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
title Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
title_full Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
title_fullStr Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
title_full_unstemmed Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
title_short Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT): design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
title_sort managing injuries of the neck trial mint design of a randomised controlled trial of treatments for whiplash associated disorders
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/8/7
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