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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00546806

University Health Network Whiplash Intervention Trial

Whiplash is the most common traffic injury, affecting 83% of people involved in motor vehicle collisions. People with whiplash injuries often experience pain and disability that can last for a long period. This may subsequently lead to an increased use of the health care system. Preventing chronic symptoms is a priority for clinicians, insurers, and policy makers. However, there are very few factors that can be changed by treatment to prevent prolonged symptoms. Providing effective care at the appropriate time is one aspect that can be changed and needs to be studied. To date, no randomized clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest whether rehabilitation programs are superior to physician-based care at improving whiplash-associated symptoms. Thus, there is a need for a randomized trial to determine what program results in the best outcomes for patients.

The purpose of this study is to compare three programs of care that are currently available in Ontario for the management of patients with Whiplash-associated disorders.

The results of this study will demonstrate which of three programs of care is superior in improving the physical and mental health of patients with whiplash-associated disorders. The results will help guide the development and implementation of effective and cost-effective programs of care by informing clinicians, insurers and government on the best rehabilitation options for patients with whiplash injuries.

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Key information

Conditions

Whiplash Injuries Neck Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Harwood Rehab and Sports Injury Clinic, Ajax, Ontario, Canada

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About this study

Background: Whiplash is the most common traffic injury, affecting 83% of people involved in motor vehicle collisions. It results in a significant burden of pain, disability and health care utilization. Preventing chronic whiplash is a priority for clinicians, insurers, and policy makers. However, whiplash injuries are resistant to treatment and few of its prognostic factors are modifiable through intervention. One of the rare factors amenable to change is the provision of timely and effective clinical care. To date, no randomized trials that have investigated the effectiveness of a coordinated and staged multidisciplinary rehabilitation program aimed at improving the health outcomes of patients with whiplash-associated disorders. Moreover, it is not known whether rehabilitation programs are superior to physician care in promoting better health outcomes. Overall, there is a need for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to investigate what program of care yields the best outcomes for patients.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the "Soft Tissue Injury Care Model" designed by AVIVA Canada, the "Pre-approved Framework Guideline for Grade I and II Whiplash Associated Disorders" recommended by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and a physician-based "Education and Activation" intervention on the rate of self-rated recovery from whiplash-associated disorders.

Methods: We designed a three-arm pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive one of three program of care: 1) the "Soft Tissue Injury Care Model" designed by AVIVA Canada;2) the "Pre-approved Framework Guideline for Grade I and II Whiplash Associated Disorders" recommended by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario ; or 3) a physician-based "Education and Activation" intervention.

Significance: The results of this study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of three commonly used management strategies for whiplash injuries in Ontario. The results will help guide the development of effective and cost-effective programs of care and inform insurance and government policy on the rehabilitation of whiplash injuries.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age or older
  • make an insurance claim for physical injury within 21 days of the traffic collision
  • diagnosed with Grade I or Grade II WAD
  • report an average neck pain since the accident of at least 3 on a 0-10 "Numerical Rating Scale"
  • able to give written informed consent and complete interviews in English

Exclusion criteria

  • a fracture/dislocation of the spine or any major bone
  • head trauma associated with loss of consciousness
  • past whiplash or work-related neck injury within the year prior to their current injury
  • active systemic diseases
  • previous neck surgery
  • received treatment from a physiotherapist or a chiropractor for neck pain in the three months preceding the motor vehicle collision
  • individuals who do not reside in the Greater Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, Cambridge or Kitchener areas

Treatment and study plan

Programs of Care

Other

Two physiotherapy programs of care for the experimental groups; Physician-based education and activation for the active comparator group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Global perceived recovery, Costs

    Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 months and 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck pain intensity, Whiplash disability, Health-related quality of life, Depressive symptomatology, Satisfaction with care and satisfaction with treatment, Time on insurance benefit, Recurrence, Adverse events

    Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 months and 1 year

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Other

Collaborators

  • AVIVA Canada
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Registry information

Official study title

The University Health Network Whiplash Intervention Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Three Programs of Care for the Treatment of Whiplash-associated Disorders

Acronym: WIT

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Oct 19, 2007
Registry last updated
May 24, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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