Nijmegen Decision Tool for Chronic Low Back Pain

The online NDT-CLBP aims to triage "the right patient, in time, with the right therapist" and gives selection information in two phases (before first consultation & after diagnostic phase). It consists of the screening questionnaire, outcomes monitoring and prognostic profiles for treatment (non-) response. Previous studies led to a proof-of-concept triage tool. Project goals: optimisation and generalizability when also used in other hospitals.

An innovative 'umbrella project' consisting of multiple studies. The proof-of-concept NDT-CLBP is currently being implemented as the standard of care in three other hospitals. The implementation will be evaluated both quantitatively (e.g. how often referred to, completed) and qualitatively (user experience with focus groups). A first budget impact analysis is carried out within SMK. Also, a small feasibility pilot will be conducted with 5-10 general practitioners and physiotherapists from the Nijmegen region to see if the primary care may also benefit from this. Also, we would like to refine the prognostic profiles of NDT-CLBP using machine-learning techniques (2.0 version) and the first proof-of-concept of decision support after the second phase (diagnostics). The first results will be available by the end of 2019.

Within this project we cooperate with:

• Marinus de Kleuver (co-PI; professor/head of department and orthopedic spine surgeon Radboud university medical center), spine unit SMK
• Marieke Soree (implementatie)
• Helma de Wit-Roodbeen (ICT)
• Johanna van Dongen (VU Amsterdam Public Health)
• Raymond Ostelo (VU Amsterdam Public Health)
• Innovation fund of Dutch healthcare insurers