April 7, 2025: Study Design Paper Published for IMPACt-LBP

Logo for the IMPACt-LBP Demonstration ProjectThe study design paper for IMPACt-LBP has been published online in BMJ Open. Congratulations to the study team on reaching this important milestone for all NIH Collaboratory Trials!

IMPACt-LBP is evaluating the effect of first-contact patient referral to physical therapists and doctors of chiropractic for low back pain. The study team is seeking to determine if initial contact with these “primary spine practitioners” will improve physical function and pain, decrease opioid prescriptions, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce the costs and use of health care services in patients with low back pain when compared with usual medical care.

The study is being led by Christine Goertz, Adam Goode, and Hrishikesh Chakraborty of Duke University and Jon Lurie of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and is supported by a grant award from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Read the full study design paper.