The design and rationale of the Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatments trial: a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a common condition that impacts quality of life and function. There are many evidence-based treatments to address cLBP; however, treatment effects are modest, perhaps in part due to individual variation in treatment response. The Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatments (BEST) trial was designed as the collaborative centerpiece of the Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) research program. This consortium was sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) as part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.

Design

The BEST trial was a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) designed with the primary goal of identifying in whom different treatments show optimal

SUBMITTER: Mauck MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12405758 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature