title: A pragmatic observational feasibility study on integrated treatment for musculoskeletal disorders: Design and protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) comprise a wide range of conditions, associated with an enormous pain and impaired mobility, and are affecting people's lives and work. Management of musculoskeletal disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary team approach. Positive findings have been found in previous studies evaluating the effectiveness of complementary therapies, though little attention has been paid to evaluating of the effectiveness of integrated packages of care combining conventional and complementary approaches for musculoskeletal conditions in a National Health Service (NHS) setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of all aspects of a pragmatic observational study designed: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of integrated treatments for MSDs in an integrated NHS hospital in the UK; (2) to determine the acceptability of the study design and research process to patients; (3) to explore patients' expectation and experience of receiving integrated treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational feasibility study, with 1-year recruitment and 1-year follow-up, conducted in Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College London Hospital Trust, UK. All eligible patients with MSDs newly referred to the hospital were included in the study. Interventions are integrated packages of care (conventional and complementary) as currently provided in the hospital. SF-36™ Health Survey, short form Brief Pain Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and modified Client Service Receipt Inventory will be assessed at 4/5 time points. Semi-structured interview/focus group will be carried out before treatment, and 1 year after commence of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We intend to conduct a pragmatic observational study of integrated medical treatment of MSDs at a public sector hospital. It will inform the design of a future trial including recruitment, retention, suitability of the outcome measures and patients experiences.
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors: Xiao-yang
authors: XY
authors: Hu
authors: Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College London Hospital National Health Service Trust, London, WC1N 3HR, UK.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Hughes
authors: Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College London Hospital National Health Service Trust, London, WC1N 3HR, UK.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Fisher
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors: Ava
authors: A
authors: Lorenc
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Purtell
authors: Personal Social Services Research Unit, Health and Social Care, the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, WC2A 2AE, UK.
authors: A-La
authors: AL
authors: Park
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Robinson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D003625:Data Collection; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D064792:Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic
keywords: feasibility study; integrated medicine; mixed method; musculoskeletal disorders