Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Is E-health a Way to Increase Ability and Health and Make Health Care More Effective in Chronic Whiplash? A Prospective Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial
Brief Summary: Neck pain is fourth among the most common conditions worldwide associated with longer periods of living with disability. Annually, about 30 000 people in Sweden undergo a whiplash trauma (WAD), and half of those individuals will develop chronic problems with high costs for the individual and society. Evidence for chronic WAD treatment is scarce, although neck-specific training at a physiotherapy clinic (2 times a week for 3 months) has demonstrated good results. A more efficient, flexible rehabilitation with reduced waiting times and lower costs is needed, ideally replacing lengthy on-site treatment series by health care providers. Internet-based care has proven to be a viable alternative to personal care meetings for a variety of diseases and interventions, but studies are lacking on Internet-based interventions for individuals with chronic neck problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate if A) neck-specific training delivered through Internet-based care differs from B) a longer series of treatments at a physiotherapy clinic regarding, e.g., work ability, sick-leave and disability. This prospective, randomized study involves 140 participants. Measurement is done at baseline, 3 months (end of treatment), and 15 months (12 months after end of treatment in the study) and will include ratings of work ability, sick-leave, work presenteeism, disability, pain, health, satisfaction with care, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. The study results may contribute to the development of a more effective rehabilitation, flexible and equal care, shorter waiting times, increased availability and lower costs for health care and society. The program can be implemented on a broader scale in neck pain patients.