Journal article
EHealth to empower patients with musculoskeletal pain in rural Australia (EMPoweR) a randomised clinical trial: study protocol
Carlos Mesa-Castrillon, Milena Simic, Manuela L Ferreira, Kristy Hatswell, Georgina Luscombe, Antonio Michell de Gregorio, Phillip R Davis, Adrian Bauman, Stephen Bunker, Ornella Clavisi, Grahame Knox, Kim L Bennell, Paulo H Ferreira
BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS | BMC | Published : 2021
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are major contributors to disability worldwide. These conditions result in a significant burden at both individual and societal levels. Engagement in regular physical activity and exercise programs are known to improve physical function in both chronic LBP and knee OA populations. For people residing in rural areas, musculoskeletal conditions are often more frequent and disabling compared to urban populations, which could be the result of reduced access to appropriate health services and resources in rural settings. EHealth is an innovative solution to help provide equitable access to treatment for people with musculoskeletal pain ..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This trial is funded by the Sydney Musculoskeletal, Bone & Joint Health Alliance Musculoskeletal Enabling Research Grant (MSK ERG); and Medibank Better Health Foundation. The funders had no part in designing the study and in its implementation, analysis, data interpretation, presentation of the results and decision to submit a report for publication. PHF, MLF, and KB are supported by a Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. MS is supported by the Sydney University Research Accelerator (SOAR) fellowship.