title: Participation of pharmacists in clinical trial recruitment for low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinician involvement in clinical trials research represents a significant contribution to addressing important research questions in primary care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Pharmacy Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abdel Shaheed
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Kylie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McLachlan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;(1):CD008643
references.pmid: 23440831
references.citation: J Clin Epidemiol. 2014 Feb;67(2):169-75
references.pmid: 24183609
references.citation: Hist Human Sci. 2011;24(1):95-107
references.pmid: 21491788
references.citation: Thromb Haemost. 2014 Jun;111(6):1167-76
references.pmid: 24687081
references.citation: J Med Philos. 2004 Dec;29(6):717-38
references.pmid: 15590518
references.citation: Am J Med. 1987 Feb;82(2):283-90
references.pmid: 3812521
references.citation: Eur Spine J. 2010 Dec;19(12):2075-94
references.pmid: 20602122
references.citation: J Clin Nurs. 2010 Jan;19(1-2):227-33
references.pmid: 20500260
references.citation: J Clin Epidemiol. 2008 Feb;61(2):110-118
references.pmid: 18177783
references.citation: Clin Ther. 2006 Oct;28(10):1592-606
references.pmid: 17157115
references.citation: Bioethics. 1995 Apr;9(2):127-48
references.pmid: 11653056
references.citation: Arch Surg. 2003 Jan;138(1):59-62
references.pmid: 12511152
references.citation: Eur Spine J. 2006 Mar;15 Suppl 2:S169-91
references.pmid: 16550447
references.citation: J Clin Nurs. 2006 Dec;15(12):1559-64
references.pmid: 17118078
references.citation: PLoS One. 2014 Mar 26;9(3):e92744
references.pmid: 24671210
references.citation: Cult Med Psychiatry. 2009 Sep;33(3):382-411
references.pmid: 19597976
references.citation: J Rheumatol. 2005 Dec;32(12):2317-25
references.pmid: 16331756
references.citation: BMJ. 1998 Oct 31;317(7167):1209-12
references.pmid: 9794861
references.citation: Lancet. 2014 Nov 1;384(9954):1586-96
references.pmid: 25064594
references.citation: Eur Spine J. 2008 Nov;17(11):1423-30
references.pmid: 18797937
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2011 Jan;68(1):107-12
references.pmid: 21220681
references.citation: BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2007 Jan 31;8:10
references.pmid: 17266748
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80
references.pmid: 19790051
references.citation: J Pain. 2014 Jan;15(1):2-15
references.pmid: 24373568
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Jun;27(5):327-35
references.pmid: 15195040
references.citation: Am J Bioeth. 2009 Dec;9(12):4-12
references.pmid: 20013484
references.citation: Trials. 2013 Aug 09;14:248
references.pmid: 23937999
references.citation: Hastings Cent Rep. 2012 May-Jun;42(3):29-37
references.pmid: 22627721