Goal Oriented Activity for Latinos With Spine Pain (GOALS)

February 6, 2025 updated by: San Diego State University

Efficacy of a Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Based Physical Therapy Intervention for Latinos With Chronic Spine Pain

The primary purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of a culturally adapted cognitive behavioral based tele-rehabilitation program compared to usual care for Hispanics/Latinos with chronic neck or low back pain. Goal Oriented Activity for Latinos with Spine Pain (GOALS) is an evidence-based cognitive behavioral physical therapy program that has been adapted for Hispanics/Latinos with chronic spine pain. GOALS combines 2 in-person evaluation sessions with 6 telephone treatment sessions provided once a week for 8 weeks by a physical therapist trained in cognitive behavioral approaches for pain management. Usual Care involves 8 weeks of in-person treatment as recommended by a physical therapist at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The primary outcome that will be evaluated is pain-related disability as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory Pain Interference scale. It is hypothesized that participants in the GOALS intervention will experience a greater improvement in pain-related disability than participants in the Usual Care group.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

123 Hispanics/Latinos with chronic spine pain will be identified through consecutive sampling of patients at a local FQHC who were referred by their primary care physician to physical therapy (PT) for neck or low back pain. Participants who are deemed eligible and enroll in the study will be scheduled for the first study assessment, where they will provide written informed consent for participation. Participation includes 4 study assessments and 8-weeks of treatment with either GOALS or Usual Care PT. Participants will be stratified by sex (male/female) and diagnosis (low back pain/neck pain) and randomized into either the GOALS or the Usual Care group following completion of the Baseline assessment. Study assessments will be conducted 1-week before (Baseline) and 1-week (Post), 3-months (3-mo Post), and 6-months (6-mo Post) after completing 8 weeks of GOALS or Usual Care PT.

The projected sample size for GOALS changed from N=138 to N=123 after adding an eligibility criterion requiring participants to attend the PT evaluation. Our power analysis indicated N=98 participants is the smallest sample size needed to detect the effect of the GOALS intervention. Before beginning the trial, we estimated a 41% attrition rate given data from the partnering clinic, suggesting we needed to recruit N=138 to meet our N=98 sample size. However, we added an inclusion criterion that participants need to attend the initial PT evaluation in order to be enrolled in the study. We retained an estimated attrition rate of 20% of enrolled participants, requiring an initial sample size of N=123 to meet the N=98 minimum sample size.

The primary aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of a culturally adapted cognitive behavioral based PT tele-rehabilitation program compared to usual care in Hispanics/Latinos with chronic spine pain, based on improvement in the pain interference scale in the Brief Pain Inventory after treatment (primary outcome). The 1-week post-intervention assessment will be analyzed using a linear regression model. The time by condition (GOALS vs. Usual Care) interaction term will be added to the models to assess for intervention effects. If the interaction is not significant, the main effect for time and condition will be assessed. For all outcomes, the models will be adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that may affect treatment response. Secondary outcomes of pain interference at other time-points (3- and 6-mo Post) and patient reported outcomes and physical performance measures at all time points will be evaluated in the same manner. It is hypothesize that participation in the GOALS intervention compared to Usual Care will result in greater improvements in pain interference (primary outcome), as well as secondary patient reported outcomes and physical performance measures.

Pre-planned secondary analyses will explore biological/physical, psychological, and environmental moderators and mediators of treatment response. The dependent variable for this analysis will be treatment response, whereby participants will be dichotomized into responder and non-responder groups based on a ≥30% reduction in pain interference as recommended by IMMPACT guidelines. An exploratory, backward selection approach using separate multivariate logistic regression models will be used to identify predictors that are most strongly related to treatment response. These variables will then be entered into a single combined multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic covariates of treatment response. The study will also explore potential mediators of treatment response with structural equation modeling (SEM) using maximum likelihood estimation methods. Parameter estimates will be evaluated and indirect effects, reflecting mediation, will be calculated and examined for statistical significance and clinical meaningfulness. It is hypothesized that baseline indicators for high fear of movement and sedentary behavior will predict a positive response to the GOALS intervention. However, the study will also collect and analyze other candidate predictors of treatment response based on a conceptual model of the pain experience in Hispanics/Latinos.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

138

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

    • California
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92103
        • Family Health Centers of San Diego
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92182
        • SDSU HealthLINK Center

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

18 years to 66 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Referred to physical therapy by primary care physician
  • 18-66 years old
  • Hispanic
  • Diagnosis of chronic neck or low back pain
  • Must attend at least 1 physical therapy treatment session

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Tumor, infection, or other major medical problem affecting the neck or low back
  • Health problems that severely affect ability to move, walk one block, or participate in exercise
  • Presence of external incentives for non-recovery (e.g., litigation, worker's compensation benefits)
  • Initiating or receiving any new psychotherapy or behavioral health treatment for the neck or low back pain during the observation period
  • Diagnosis of a major psychological condition (e.g., schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder)
  • Inability to provide a stable address with access to a telephone or any other reason that would preclude participation in a telephone-based intervention
  • Cohabitating with a GOALS/Metas participant
  • Pregnant or lactating

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: GOALS Intervention
The experimental arm is an 8-week cognitive-behavioral based physical therapy (PT) intervention for chronic spine pain. The manualized intervention utilizes a hybrid tele-rehabilitation delivery model. GOALS comprises an initial in-person evaluation (60 min) by a research physical therapist, followed by 6 remote treatment sessions (30-45 min each) conducted by the same physical therapist once a week by telephone. A second in-person evaluation is conducted at the midpoint of the GOALS intervention to assess progress and advance the participant's home exercise program.
Weekly treatment sessions are comprised of a graded activity program focused on goal setting in 4 treatment domains: therapeutic exercise, aerobic activity, functional activity, and pain coping skills. Instruction in cognitive behavioral coping skills for pain include: explaining pain (pain neuroscience education), pacing, soliciting positive social support, cognitive restructuring, present mindedness, and symptom self-management planning.
Active Comparator: Usual Care Physical Therapy
The control arm is Usual Care physical therapy (PT) at a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which offers PT services at 4 outpatient clinics across San Diego county. Participants in the Usual Care group attend an initial PT evaluation at a FQHC Physical Rehabilitation Clinic. The frequency and type of PT intervention are then determined by the treating physical therapist in accordance with standard clinical practice at the FQHC.
Usual care will be characterized by extracting the following variables from participants' electronic health record: date of physician referral to physical therapy for neck or low back pain diagnosis (index referral), attendance of at least one PT visit (adherence), dates of first and last PT visits for index referral (duration of care), number of PT visits attended across an 8-week episode of care for the index referral (number of visits), clinic where PT services were provided (service location), and CPT billing codes issued during the episode of care for the index referral (type and frequency of treatments provided).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Pain Interference
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess global pain-related disability. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Decreases in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Pain Interference
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (3-month, 6-month)
To assess global pain-related disability. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (3-month, 6-month)
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess global pain severity. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
PEG-3
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess global pain intensity and pain interference. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess regional pain-related disability for people with neck pain. Scale values: 0% (min) to 100% (max). Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
Modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess regional pain-related disability for people with low back pain. Scale values: 0% (min) too 100% (max). Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess ability to perform patient-identified functional activities. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Increase in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
6-Meter Walk Test
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess preferred and maximum gait speeds. Scale is measured in seconds. Decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)
30-s Sit-to-Stand
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess number of repetitions for a sit-to-stand functional performance task for people with low back pain. Scale is measured in number of repetitions. Increase in score indicates improvement in outcomes.
Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention (1-week)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Expectancy Measure
Time Frame: Baseline
To assess participant expectancy related to treatment condition assigned. Scale values: 0 (min) to 10 (max). Higher scores indicate better therapeutic alliance.
Baseline
Kim Alliance Scale (KAS)
Time Frame: Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess therapeutic alliance for the treatment condition rendered. Scale values: 16 (min) to 64 (max). Higher scores indicate better therapeutic alliance.
Post-Intervention (1-week)
Global Impression of Change (GIC)
Time Frame: Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess self-reported improvement with intervention. Scale values: 1 (min) to 7 (max). Lower scores indicate better outcomes.
Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
Global Rating of Satisfaction (GRS)
Time Frame: Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
To assess self-reported satisfaction with intervention. Scale values: 1 (min) to 7 (max). Lower scores indicate better outcomes.
Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month, 6-month)
Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess fear of movement associated with neck or low back pain. Physical activity subscale: Scale values: 0 (min) to 24 (max). Work Subscale: Scale values: 0 (min) to 42 (max). Decrease in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess pain catastrophizing. Scale values: 0 (min) to 52 (max). Decrease in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Medical Outcomes Study - Social Support Measure (MOS-SS)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess social support. Scale values: 0% (min) to 100% (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
New General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess general self-efficacy. Scale values: 1 (min) to 5 (max). Increase in scores indicate an improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess self-efficacy specifically related to pain. Scale values: 0 (min) to 60 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
PROMIS Short-Form Anxiety 4a
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess generalized anxiety. Scale values: 0 (min) to 100 (max). Decrease in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
PROMIS Short-Form Depression 4a
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess depressive symptoms. Scale values: 0 (min) to 100 (max). Decrease in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
PROMIS Short-Form Sleep Disturbance
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess sleep disturbance. Scale values: 0 (min) to 100 (max). Decrease in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
PROMIS Short-Form Physical Function 4a
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess generalized physical function. Scale values: 0 (min) to 100 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline, Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
PROMIS Short-Form Ability to Participate 4a
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess participation in social roles and activities. Scale values: 0 (min) to 100 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) Aerobic
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess self-reported physical activity. Aerobic scale values: 1 (min) to 7 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) Strength and Flexibility
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess self-reported physical activity. Strength & Flexibility scale values: 0 (min) to 3 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Self-Efficacy and Exercise Habits Survey (SEHS)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
To assess self-efficacy specifically related to exercise. Scale values: 1 (min) to 5 (max). Increase in scores indicate improvement in outcomes.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week, 3-month)
Physical Activity (Actigraph)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Objective measure of physical activity. Physical activity scale values: 0% (min) to 100% (max) (increase in score indicate improvement in outcomes.)
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior (Actigraph)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Objective measures of physical activity. Sedentary behavior scale values: 0% (min) to 100% (max) (decrease in score indicate improvement in outcomes.)
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Sleep Efficiency (Actigraph)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Objective measure of sleep behavior. Efficiency 0-100% (increase is an improvement).
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Sleep Duration (Actigraph)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Objective measure of sleep behavior. Time Asleep in minutes (increase is an improvement).
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Sleep Onset (Actigraph)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Objective measure of sleep behavior. Sleep Onset Latency in minutes (decrease is an improvement).
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Posture and Movement Measures (DorsaVi)
Time Frame: Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
To assess spine posture and movement and associated pain behavior during clinical tests and daily activities.
Baseline; Post-Intervention (1-week)
Goal Attainment Scale
Time Frame: Once weekly during 8-week GOALS intervention
To assess the extent to which participants attain weekly goals in the GOALS intervention. Scale values: -2 (min) to 2 (max). Higher scores indicate greater adherence to weekly goals.
Once weekly during 8-week GOALS intervention
Adverse Event Checklist
Time Frame: Once weekly during 8-week GOALS intervention
To assess type and frequency of treatment-related adverse events.
Once weekly during 8-week GOALS intervention
Post-Intervention Survey
Time Frame: Post-Intervention (3-month, 6-month)
To assess the extent to which participants are continuing to utilize the GOALS/Metas program activities and the importance of the physical therapy treatment in management of their chronic spine pain.
Post-Intervention (3-month, 6-month)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sara Gombatto, PT, Ph.D, San Diego State University
  • Principal Investigator: Katrina Monroe, PT, Ph.D, San Diego State University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

August 4, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 23, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 16, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 5, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

August 13, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2025

Last Verified

February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 228489
  • U54MD012397 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (including data dictionaries) that underlie the results reported in publications, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, appendices), will be available. Other documents that will be made available include: Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, Analytic Code, Informed Consent Form, Patient Guide (English/Spanish), and Therapist Guide (English/Spanish). Data will be available for individual participant data meta-analysis beginning 6 months and ending 5 years following article publication.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 6 months and ending 5 years following article publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data will be available to investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose by the San Diego State University HealthLINK Advisory Board. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement. Proposals should be directed to sgombatto@sdsu.edu. Data are available for 5 years through the San Diego State University HealthLINK Health Science Knowledge Repository website.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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