Program Overview

Introduction to the BACK Program

The BACK Program, led by Dr. Jill Hayden, is a research initiative focused on low back pain. The program adopts a highly collaborative model of mentorship, where trainees and fellows work together with supervisors to contribute to the larger program of research.

Trainee Experience

Trainees in the BACK Program have the opportunity to work on various projects, ranging from secondary database analysis to qualitative interviews, all examining low back pain from different perspectives. The program provides a supportive environment, with Dr. Hayden always available to support her students. The trainee experience is enhanced by the collaborative team, increasing knowledge of study methodology and creating opportunities to collaborate with like-minded students, clinicians, and policymakers.

Joining the Team

The BACK Program is always seeking quality trainees and research fellows interested in primary epidemiological studies and/or evidence syntheses in the low back pain research field. The program is actively recruiting Post Doctoral Fellows, PhD, Masters, and Undergraduate Medical Education trainees. Opportunities also exist for trainees looking to build their skill set through short-term volunteer placements.

Trainee Projects

Trainees in the BACK Program work on various projects, including:

• Ongoing projects:
  • The relationship between individual physical and psychological characteristics in the management and prognosis of patients with low back pain (Alexandra Boyd, MSc 2024)
  • Comparison of prehospital airway management and its associations with 30-day survival; 9-year retrospective cohort study (Alex Stirling, MSc 2023)
• Completed projects:
  • Do differences exist in therapeutic treatment between men and women presenting to the emergency department with low back pain? (Alanna MacDonald, MSc 2023)
  • What are the patterns and associations between new exposure to opioids for low back pain in the urgent care system and prolonged opioid use? (Sareen Singh, MSc 2022)
  • What is the relationship between first-prescription factors, baseline patient and prescriber characteristics, and risk of prolonged opioid use following new use for acute pain? (Roah Merdad, PhD 2022)
  • For WCB-NS claimants with non-specific low back pain complaints, is initial presentation to an ED associated with a delayed return to work as compared to those who present to other healthcare settings? (Logan Macdonald, RIM 2022)
  • Do physician characteristics predict diagnostic imaging of emergency department patients who present with low back pain? (Jonny Doucett, RIM 2021)
  • Do patients with low back pain who receive diagnostic imaging have different health outcomes compared to those who do not receive diagnostic imaging? (AC Silver, RIM 2021)
  • What is the rate of prolonged opioid use following prescription for opioids for low back pain in Nova Scotia emergency departments? (Kaleigh MacIsaac, RIM 2021)
  • What are the demographic and management characteristics of older adults with low back pain presenting to Nova Scotia emergency departments? (Stephen Deering, RIM 2021)
  • Does emergency department management of older adults with low back pain differ from management of younger adults with the same condition? (Lucy Federico, RIM 2021)
  • What characteristics are associated with length of stay following lumbar spine surgery? (Madison Stevens, MSc 2020)
  • What is the utility of "red flags" in identifying serious spinal pathology with low back pain? (James Kiberd, RIM 2019)
  • What factors are associated with low back pain investigation? (James Kiberd, RIM 2019)
  • Does receiving diagnostic imaging impact patient management in the emergency department for low back pain patients? (Dr. Peter Leighton, EM Resident 2018)
  • What factors affect management of low back pain patients? (Siwar Arda, RIM 2019)
  • Are NSAIDS effective for treatment of low back pain in the emergency department? (Dana Archibald, RIM 2018)
  • What treatments are effective for low back pain in the emergency department? (Bernard Burgesson, RIM 2018)
  • How is low back pain managed in the QEII emergency department? (Matthew Nunn, RIM 2018)
  • Why do low back pain patients present to emergency department? (Alex Stathakis, RIM 2018)
  • What is the prognosis of patients who present to the emergency department with non-specific low back pain? (Dr. Samantha Jang-Stewart, EM Resident 2017)
  • How common is low back pain at the QEII emergency department? (Jordan Edwards, MSc 2016)
  • What are important prognostic factors associated with healthcare seeking for chronic low back pain in the Canadian Armed Forces? (Selena Glover, MSc 2015)

Conclusion

The BACK Program at Dalhousie University offers a unique opportunity for trainees to contribute to research in low back pain, working alongside experienced supervisors and collaborators. The program's focus on collaboration, mentorship, and research excellence provides a supportive environment for trainees to grow and develop their skills.