Patients vs. doctors: who can best diagnose back pain?
NCT ID NCT06630676
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether people with chronic low back pain can correctly identify the source of their pain after learning about common causes. About 288 adults with back pain for over 3 months reviewed educational slides and then guessed their top two diagnoses. Researchers compared their answers with those of their doctors to see how often they matched.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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288 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * • Age \> 18 years * Primary complaint of LBP or sciatica * Duration of LBP \> 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * • Referral for a specific diagnostic procedure or who present with a pre-established diagnosis * Inability to understand written English
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University Pain Management Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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