Village-Wide Recruitment for Low Back Pain Study

Multiple village-wide announcements facilitated by village/ward heads (traditional rulers) and adverts via local posters pasted at the research centre and different locations in the community were used to recruit participants until the target sample size was achieved. Potential participants were invited to the primary health care centre and upon their arrival, eligibility was ensured using the stipulated study inclusion and exclusion criteria. The eligibility assessments were carried out by physiotherapists with the use of body charts to identify pain in the lower back, history taking, and screening to rule out ‘red flags’ for low back pain [56 (link)]. All participants provided written informed consent. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) male or female between the age of 18 and 70 years, (2) nonspecific low back pain with or without leg pain experienced for 12 weeks or more, and (3) ability to read and understand Hausa or English language or both. Exclusion criteria were: (1) history of spine surgery, (2) obvious spine or limb deformities, (3) serious spinal pathology (e.g. infection, metastases, cauda equina syndrome, and fracture) (4) unstable or severe disabling chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, (5) inadequate visual and hearing ability, (6) previous physiotherapy treatment in the form of exercise and/or education in the last 3 months, (7) body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/cm², and (8) pregnancy. Verbal information about the study purpose and potential benefits using an information sheet was read to the eligible participants. Those willing to participate were then given a written informed consent form to sign or make a thumbprint.