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Participation of pharmacists in clinical trial recruitment for low back pain

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Abstract

Introduction Clinician involvement in clinical trials research represents a significant contribution to addressing important research questions in primary care. Aim This study aimed to explore the experiences of pharmacists recruiting patients to a low back pain (LBP) clinical trial conducted in Australia, the challenges they experienced and screening and management of people with acute LBP. Ethical approval This study received ethical approval (No. 13799) through the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee. Methods A convenience sample of 15 pharmacists who successfully recruited people to the clinical trial and 15 pharmacists who collaborated on the trial but did not recruit any participants were invited to complete an open ended questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of six items framed to evaluate pharmacists’ views on participation in the LBP clinical trial, ideas for addressing the challenges they experienced and screening and management of people with LBP who present to the pharmacy. Results A total of 30 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Pharmacists identified lack of time and patient reluctance to participate as the major challenges to recruiting participants to the LBP clinical trial. Greater patient incentives and a more efficient paperwork system have been recommended as strategies to overcome these challenges. The recruiters and non-recruiters held similar views on pharmacological management of acute LBP and complied with guideline recommended care; although their views on the non-pharmacological management of acute LBP were less consistent with the guidelines. Discussion The experiences of pharmacists evaluated in this study has broadened the understanding around challenges to recruitment for a placebo controlled trial and identified gaps which can be addressed in future training and education of pharmacists. Conclusion This study has identified time pressure as the major barrier to recruitment of participants to the LBP clinical trial. Education of pharmacists on the appropriate non-pharmacological management of people with LBP and screening for possible red flag conditions is required.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the pharmacists who participated in this study.

Funding

This research received no specific funding from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. CAS is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. CGM is supported by a research fellowship funded by the Australian Research Council.

Conflicts of interest

CGM and AJM are investigators on the PACE trial (http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12609000966291.aspx) which is jointly funded by a project Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council and GlaxoSmithKline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Pharmacy Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Christina Abdel Shaheed & Andrew J. McLachlan

  2. Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 13, 321 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia

    Christopher G. Maher

  3. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia

    Christopher G. Maher

  4. Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Kylie A. Williams

  5. Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Andrew J. McLachlan

Authors
  1. Christina Abdel Shaheed
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  2. Christopher G. Maher
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  3. Kylie A. Williams
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  4. Andrew J. McLachlan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew J. McLachlan.

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Abdel Shaheed, C., Maher, C.G., Williams, K.A. et al. Participation of pharmacists in clinical trial recruitment for low back pain. Int J Clin Pharm 36, 986–994 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-014-9985-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-014-9985-y

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