biostudies-literatureCherkin DNIHR Research ProfessorshipNCCIH NIH HHSNational Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute361https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4995645biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)<h4>Background</h4>Despite numerous options for treating back pain and the increasing healthcare resources devoted to this problem, the prevalence and impact of back pain-related disability has not improved. It is now recognized that psychosocial factors, as well as physical factors, are important predictors of poor outcomes for back pain. A promising new approach that matches treatments to the physical and psychosocial obstacles to recovery, the STarT Back risk stratification approach, improved patients' physical function while reducing costs of care in the United Kingdom (UK). This trial evaluates implementation of this strategy in a United States (US) healthcare setting.<h4>Methods</h4>Six large primary care clinics in an integrated healthcare system in Washington State were block-randoBMC musculoskeletal disordersEvaluation of a risk-stratification strategy to improve primary care for low back pain: the MATCH cluster randomized trial protocol.PMC4995645#R21AT0007326NF-SI-0515-10095Contract #398NIHR-RP-011-015R21 AT007326Hsu CPiekara DLevine MDHill JCWellman RCook ARock PEstlin KTSowden GJensen MCherkin DBalderson BYeoman JSherman KHawkes RFoster NELaPorte AMEvers SCBrewer GfalseEvaluation of a risk-stratification strategy to improve primary care for low back pain: the MATCH cluster randomized trial protocol.<h4>Background</h4>Despite numerous options for treating back pain and the increasing healthcare resources devoted to this problem, the prevalence and impact of back pain-related disability has not improved. It is now recognized that psychosocial factors, as well as physical factors, are important predictors of poor outcomes for back pain. A promising new approach that matches treatments to the physical and psychosocial obstacles to recovery, the STarT Back risk stratification approach, improved patients' physical function while reducing costs of care in the United Kingdom (UK). This trial evaluates implementation of this strategy in a United States (US) healthcare setting.<h4>Methods</h4>Six large primary care clinics in an integrated healthcare system in Washington State were block-rando2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Aug2026-07-15T23:31:41.614Z2026-07-09T10:21:40.882ZS-EPMC49956452755362610.1186/s12891-016-1219-0