The study

 The STarT Back trial showed that stratified care, based on matching treatment to prognosis (low, medium, or high risk of ongoing problems), was clinically and cost effective.

TAPS is a flagship clinical trial to test if this approach also works for people with neck, shoulder, knee and multi-site pain (& back pain).

Practices will be randomised to deliver one of two approaches for patients presenting with musculoskeletal pain, either stratified care or usual care.

What does it mean for your practice?

• Agree to be randomised to the control or intervention arms of the trial.

• Deliver the trial interventions:

  • For intervention arm practices - for patients with MSK pain, use of a brief template to assess prognosis & inform treatment decisions.

  • For control arm practices - for patients with MSK pain, use of a brief template to record levels of pain intensity.

• Attend study related meetings:

  • For intervention arm practices - one 1-hour set-up meeting, and two 2-hour training workshops.

  • For control arm practices - one 1-hour set-up meeting.

• Provide feedback on delivering the intervention (in intervention practices).

   

What are the benefits for your practice?

• Fully funded: reimbursements tied to level of involvement

• Revalidation activities: participating in research and training

• Involvement in developing and testing new ways of working

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact TAPS Trial Manager Stephanie Tooth phone: 01782 734835 email: s.j.tooth@keele.ac.uk

This research is funded by the NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research programme (Grant reference number: RP-PG-1211-20010). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.