NCT07802951 Collaborative Clinical Reasoning: Perceptions and Practices of General Practitioners, Physical Therapists, and Patients With Low Back Pain in Primary Care
| NCT ID | NCT07802951 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Université Catholique de Louvain |
| Condition | Collaborative Clinical Reasoning |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 225 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-09 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-12 |
Eligibility & Interventions
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 225 participants in total. It began in 2026-09 with a primary completion date of 2027-12.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Low back pain is a major health problem in primary care and is associated with a substantial clinical, economic, and societal burden. Although evidence-based recommendations are available, its management remains heterogeneous, poorly coordinated, and often characterized by overmedicalization. In this context, interprofessional collaboration has been identified as a means of improving primary care but does not necessarily ensure a shared understanding of clinical situations. Collaborative Clinical Reasoning (CCR), defined as the process of developing a shared mental model among healthcare professionals and patient partners, remains insufficiently explored in primary care. This exploratory qualitative study aims to explore the representations and definitions of Collaborative Clinical Reasoning among general practitioners, physiotherapists, and patient partners with low back pain in French-speaking Belgium. It also aims to examine how CCR is implemented in primary care practice and to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Data will be collected through separate focus groups involving general practitioners, physiotherapists, and patient partners with low back pain. Qualitative data will be analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: A. General Practitioners 1. Be a general practitioner or a physician in postgraduate training in general practice. 2. Practice general medicine in French-speaking Belgium. 3. Practice general medicine in primary care. B. Physiotherapists 1. Be a physiotherapist. 2. Practice physiotherapy in French-speaking Belgium. 3. Practice physiotherapy in primary care. C. Patients with low back pain 1. Age ≥18 years. 2. Have low back pain (pain between the lower margin of the ribs and the gluteal fold, with or without pain in one or both legs). 3. Have consulted both a general practitioner and a physiotherapist for this condition in primary care in French-speaking Belgium. Exclusion Criteria: A. General Practitioners 1\. Be on sick leave during the study (e.g., work incapacity) B. Physiotherapists 1. Practice exclusively in a nursing home or a nursing home with skilled nursing care. 2. Be on sick leave during the study (e.g., work incapacity). C. Patients with low back pain 1. Have a known specific lumbar pathology (e.g., fracture, infection, cancer, lumbar radiculopathy, etc). 2. Have a known general condition that may explain the low back pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, rheumatologic disease, etc). 3. Have undergone back surgery within the past 12 months. 4. Be pregnant or have had a known pregnancy within the past 12 months. 5. Reside in a nursing home or a nursing home with skilled nursing care.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07802951 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 100 Years, studying Collaborative Clinical Reasoning. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07802951 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07802951 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at olivier.hunin@uclouvain.be for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07802951 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07802951 clinical trial?
NCT07802951 is sponsored by Université Catholique de Louvain. The trial plans to enroll 225 participants.