Pain Education and Patient-led Goal Setting in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: a Randomised Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effectiveness of two treatments for adults with chronic low back pain. The main question this study seeks to answer is "In adults with chronic low back pain, what is the effectiveness of pain education and patient-led goal setting compared to guideline-based written advice on reducing pain intensity and disability?". A total of 392 participants will be randomised into two groups: 1) pain education and patient-led goal setting or 2) guideline-based written advice. Participants randomised to the pain education and patient-led goal setting group will receive 5 sessions of 45-60 min each over 8 weeks delivered online via telehealth. Participants randomised to written advice group will receive information developed for people with chronic low back pain. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and week 8, 26 and 52.

Inclusion Criteria: * Low back pain of at least 3 months duration * physically inactive (less than or equal to 150min/week moderate intensity physical activity; 75 min/week vigorous activity, or some combination of the two) * no known contraindication(s) to performing physical activity * English language proficiency * access to internet Exclusion Criteria: * physically active (more than 150min/week moderate intensity physical activity, 75 min/week vigorous activity, or some combination of the two) * known contraindication(s) to performing physical activity * known or suspected serious spinal pathology (fracture, metastatic, inflammatory or infective diseases of the spine, cauda equina syndrome/widespread neurological disorder) * scheduled for major surgery during the treatment or follow-up period