Measuring the Impact of the French Version of the Whiplash Book (WHIPLASH)

February 1, 2017 updated by: University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand

Measuring the Impact of the French Version of the Whiplash Book on Both Treatment Approach and Fears and Beliefs Among Emergency Physicians

Whiplash trauma and the resulting whiplash associated disorders have been the subject of much attention in the scientific literature and remain a major public health problem.

The most commonly encountered symptoms are neck pain, headache, low back pain, shoulder pain, as well as visual impairment. It is not unusual for neck pain to become chronic, and when this occurs, there may be serious consequences on a social, professional and financial level.

Even though the role of the initial episode should not be ignored, progression to chronic pain is probably multifactorial and, like non-specific low back pain, psycho-social factors, and in particular patient fears and belief, seem to play a relevant role, as do environmental factors. The professional consensus is that it is useful to provide targeted information at an early stage in whiplash settings in order to reduce mistaken fears and beliefs. A preliminary study enabled the investigators to validate a French version of an information booklet that draws on validated data from evidence-based medicine. The booklet was "Le guide du coup de fouet cervical," the French version of The Whiplash Book. This study showed that fears and beliefs were considerably high in a population without neck problems who were working in hospitals. It also revealed that simply providing information could help lessen them.

Management following whiplash injury can make use of the recommendations as published in the literature. Healthcare professionals must reassure and educate their patients that post-traumatic pain is normal, and that they need to remain active and maintain physical activity in order to improve their prognosis.

Only very few studies have evaluated the adherence of physicians or healthcare professionals to the guidelines and to ways of changing their approach to treatment.

The main aim of this study was to determine what fears and beliefs physicians have about the consequences of whiplash. The secondary aim was to measure the impact of a validated information booklet on emergency physicians' approach to management following a whiplash injury.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Once each of the department heads and the different physicians concerned had given their agreement to take part in the study, an initial questionnaire folder (containing the WBQ and FABQ) was sent by email and by post to each of the physicians drawn by randomization. Upon inclusion, demographic data was collected from the physicians (gender, age, place of practice, and length of time in practice), as well as any personal or family history of neck pain or whiplash. The physicians were also asked how often they encountered cases of whiplash.

Information about knowledge of whiplash injury was also sought. This included continuing medical training or recent reading (within the previous 3 years), and in particular knowledge of the different severity grades established by the Quebec Task Force classification, the radiologic recommendations of the Canadian C-Spine Rule, and lastly the latest HAS recommendation on physical therapy in post-whiplash neck pain.

Once the first questionnaire folder had been completed, a second folder was then sent to all physicians participating in the study. The intervention group was instructed to complete the questionnaires at least 48 hours after the intervention that is, after reading the information booklet.

The same items were included as in the initial folder, with an additional questionnaire enabling the intervention group to qualitatively assess the information booklet. If there was no response, reminders were sent by email, then by telephone, and lastly by post.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

95

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Clermont-Ferrand, France, 63003
        • CHU Clermont-Ferrand

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

25 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

emergency physicians

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Both sexes
  • Emergency medicine doctors
  • Doctors has given its consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • no criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
intervention group
The intervention group was instructed to complete the questionnaires at least 48 hours after the intervention that is, after reading the information booklet
control group
The same items were included as in the initial folder, with an additional questionnaire enabling the intervention group to qualitatively assess the information booklet. If there was no response, reminders were sent by email, then by telephone, and lastly by post.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
assessment of fears and beliefs in the sample of physicians tested using questionnaire WBQ (whiplash belief questionnaire)
Time Frame: 48 hours after reading the information booklet
For each statement, the physician must express his or her level of agreement or disagreement, with a score that varies from 9 to 45. The higher the score, the stronger the beliefs
48 hours after reading the information booklet
assessment of fears and beliefs in the sample of physicians tested using the FABQ (Fear Avoidance Belief questionnaire)
Time Frame: 48 hours after reading the information booklet
The FABQ (Fear Avoidance Belief questionnaire) comprises two independent scales: the physical activity FABQ and work FABQ
48 hours after reading the information booklet

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measurement of the impact of a validated information booklet on emergency physicians' approach to management following a whiplash injury.
Time Frame: 10 days for control group or minimum 48 hours after reading the information booklet for interventional group
10 days for control group or minimum 48 hours after reading the information booklet for interventional group
Non-pharmacological management of a whiplash injury
Time Frame: 10 days for control group or minimum 48 hours after reading the information booklet for interventional group

Non-pharmacological management of a whiplash injury estimated by :

  • Prescription of necklace (yes/no (%)) If yes, duration of prescription
  • Prescription of physiotherapy sessions (%)
  • Work cessation yes/no (%)
10 days for control group or minimum 48 hours after reading the information booklet for interventional group

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 13, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 1, 2017

First Posted (Estimate)

February 2, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 2, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 1, 2017

Last Verified

January 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CHU 298

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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