Despite the high prevalence of chronic low back pain (cLBP), its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Addressing modifiable psychosocial resources and health behaviours such as physical activity offers a promising avenue for reducing the impact of cLBP. Furthermore, although the relationship between physical activity and pain is theorised as a within-person process, previous research has primarily focused on between-person differences. In this article, we present the protocol for the prospective observational study PRIA (Psychologie und Rückengesundheit im Alltag), which is part of a larger interdisciplinary research consortium investigating preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of cLBP. Drawing on theories from health and pain psychology, the outlined study examines the interplay between different dimensions of cLBP and back health, physical activity and their psychosocial determinants within individuals in their everyday lives.

This prospective longitudinal study combines online questionnaires with ecological momentary assessment of health behaviours, cognitions, affect, social support and pain using a smartphone-based app (movisensXS) and continuous measurement of physical activity by accelerometry (movisens Move 4). Parameters will be recorded at baseline (T0), daily for the following 14 days (five times per day at 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00, resulting in up to 70 measurement occasions), 3 and 6 months later (T1 and T2). A total of 230 participants (115 individuals with cLBP and 115 without cLBP) aged 18–64 years will be enrolled. The associations between cLBP and the measured parameters will be examined using multilevel models.

The university’s ethics committee at the MSB Medical School Berlin approved the study on 8 March 2021 (approval number MSB-2021/59, amendment approved on 10 November 2023, amendment number MSB-2023/145). Ethical approval for the FOR 5177 initial screening was granted by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (EA1/058/21). All participants provided written informed consent. The results of this research will be published in peer-reviewed international journals, presented at national and international conferences, and reported to the German Research Foundation.

DRKS00032978.

In Tanzania, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is underdiagnosed, and uptake of evidence-based care is suboptimal. Using an implementation science approach, an intervention was developed to address local barriers to care: the Multicomponent Intervention for Improving Myocardial Infarction Care in Tanzania (MIMIC).

This sequential cohort design trial was conducted in a single northern Tanzanian emergency department (ED). During the preintervention phase (February–August 2023) and the postintervention phase (September 2023–August 2024), adults presenting with chest pain and/or dyspnoea were prospectively enrolled and their ED care was observed. AMI was defined by the Fourth Universal Definition criteria. Telephone follow-ups were conducted to ascertain 30-day mortality. Pearson’s ² was used to compare care before and after MIMIC implementation.

A total of 275 participants were enrolled in the preintervention phase and 577 were enrolled in the postintervention phase. Following MIMIC implementation, significant increases were observed in ECG testing (89.4% of postintervention participants vs 55.3% preintervention, OR 6.82, 95% CI 4.79 to 9.79, p

The MIMIC intervention was associated with large increases in uptake of AMI testing, case identification and evidence-based treatment in a single Tanzanian ED. Multisite studies are needed to evaluate the effect of MIMIC on AMI care in diverse settings across Tanzania.

NCT04563546.

Guidelines for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) dictate the initiation of conservative treatment (physical therapy, analgesics and intra-articular injections with corticosteroids) as a first line defence. When conservative treatment fails, the golden standard is invasive joint replacement surgery, but for a substantial group of patients who do not respond to the current conservative treatment, this is not (yet) indicated. The RADIOPHENOL study investigates if denervation of knee sensory (genicular) nerves can serve the gap between conservative and invasive treatment for younger patients and for patients who cannot undergo joint replacement surgery due to comorbid health conditions.

The RADIOPHENOL study is a multicentre unblinded randomised controlled trial with three parallel arms (1:1:1). In total, 192 patients with knee OA Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2–4 but not eligible for joint replacement according to the orthopaedic surgeon due to young age, old age and/or comorbidity or technical reasons are eligible and will be randomised to three groups of 64 patients. Group A: traditional radiofrequency ablation, group B: chemical neurolysis with phenol, group C: conservative medical management. Primary outcome is the Oxford Knee Score at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, knee pain by numeric rating scale, physical functionality, health-related quality of life, mental health, change in medication use, predictive value of a diagnostic block, procedure time, patient discomfort score during the intervention and adverse events.

The protocol (V.2.0, 15 May 2023), was approved by the Ethics Committee of Amsterdam UMC (NL83410.018.22 – METC2022.0890) on 31 July 2023. We aim to publish our results in international peer-reviewed journals.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06094660, including the WHO Trial Registration data set items. Registered on 20 October 2023, first patient enrolled on 27 November 2023.