Clinical Reporting to Alleviate the Nocebo Effect

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Nocebo Effect

In brief

Terminology in radiology reports may cause patients harm by anchoring to or justifying a particular diagnosis. This phenomenon is known as the nocebo effect. MRI may cause patients to pursue more invasive procedures with little added benefit. This study aims to reproduce a study to determine the impact of clinical reporting on patient care and outcomes for those suffering from lower back pain.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06103474

Run by

University of Alabama at Birmingham

People needed

18

Starts

2024-01-14

Expected to finish

2025-11-11

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-29

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• History of lower back pain undergoing MRI
• Greater than 18 years of age
• Able to understand and willing to comply with all study procedures and is available for the duration of the study

You may not qualify if…

• A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in the study:
• Acute lower back pain secondary to trauma within 1 months
• Severe cord compression on MRI
• Cord signal abnormality on MRI
• Metastatic cancer
• Spinal epidural abscess
• Vertebral osteomyelitis
• Judgement of the ordering physician (e.g. focal neurologic deficit)
• Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator or team, would place the subject at increased risk or preclude the subject's full compliance with or completion of the study

Where it is running

• UAB — Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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