Back In Action
Northern California

Sutter Health Back In Action Study Info

Frequently Asked Questions

General Study Questions

Why are you doing this study?

The goal of the BackInAction study is to see if acupuncture can help older adults who have chronic low back pain improve their quality of life. We hope to enroll about 210 Sutter Health patients in this study. 

What are you asking me to do? 

Participate in a 1-year study to learn if acupuncture may help older adults with low back pain. If you join the study you will: 
Complete surveys by phone or online 
Be randomly assigned to one of 3 study groups 
If assigned to an acupuncture group, schedule and participate in acupuncture appointments 

Who is funding this study? 

The funding is a grant from the National Institutes of Health. 

Who is conducting this research? 

This study is being conducted in collaboration with: 
Institute for Family Health 
Kaiser Permanente Northern California 
Kaiser Permanente Washington 
Sutter Health 
RAND Corporation 
The University of Washington 

What if I don’t like acupuncture, can I stop the treatment? 

You can stop the treatment at any time. 

How did you get my name?

We used Sutter Health’s computerized records to identify patients who might be eligible for this study. We invite people like yourself and follow up with additional information and an eligibility screener.

Can I get the results of the study?

No, there are currently no plans to notify participants directly about study results. Results will be posted on www.clinicaltrials.gov, likely in 2024. Search for ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04982315.

Does this study involve a control group?

Yes, one of the three study groups that you may be randomly assigned to will continue doing what they normally do for low back pain and will not receive acupuncture or any additional treatments as a part of this study. The other two groups will receive acupuncture for 3 months or 6 months.

How many people are in the study?

We plan to enroll 789 people across four study sites in Washington, California, and New York.

Questions about Participant’s Insurance Plan, Medical Care, and Health Record

Will this affect my care?

No, this will not affect your medical care. 

Does my doctor know about this?

Your doctor may know that you are involved in the study.

Will anything be added to my medical chart?

No, we will not add any information about this study to your medical record.

Participant Incentive Questions

Do I get anything for participating? 

You may receive up to $135 if you complete all study activities over the course of the year. 
Baseline survey- $15 
3-month survey- $20 (50 min) 
6-month survey- $25 (50 min) 
12-month survey- $30 (50min)
$5 each for the other 9 quick monthly check-ins/surveys (5-15 min/each) 

Study participants assigned to the acupuncture groups will also receive acupuncture treatment at no cost. 

What are ClinCards? Can I be paid in cash/check?

The BackInAction study is using ClinCards, a pre-paid debit card, to send thank yous for your participation in the study. You can use the card everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

We will send you a $15 card after your first interview. This is the card you will have for the full study, keep it safe and do not lose it! We will load additional funds as you complete other study activities.

If your card is lost or stolen, please call the BackInAction study line for a free new card. If you ask for a new card from Greenphire, you may be charged a fee.

The study team will send you additional materials about how to use your ClinCard. If you have any questions once you receive your card, please call the BackInAction study line.

Acupuncture Expectation Questions

What if I don’t like acupuncture, can I stop the treatment?

You can stop the treatment at any time.

What side effects can I expect from acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a very safe procedure. Because the needles are thin, they may cause a small sting, or no pain at all although discomfort may occur in rare cases.

You may feel tired after treatment. You may also feel worse after treatment before starting to feel better. Patients occasionally report discomfort related to lying on their stomach. There have also been reports of very small needle-site blood drops, minor bruising at the needle site, fatigue, fainting, nausea, and infection at the insertion sites, but these also occur infrequently. This study will avoid infection by using new (one-time use) pre-sterilized needles, as required by state law.

A very rare complication of acupuncture is puncture of an internal organ or disturbing nerve or vascular tissue. In this study, the risk of tissue harm is highly unlikely because of careful training and precautions regarding the depth of needling. In addition, you may feel uncomfortable if you need to remove some of your clothing for an acupuncture treatment.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional East Asian medicine that has been practiced for centuries. Acupuncturists put very thin needles into certain points on your body to help it heal. The needles do not inject anything into the body. They are only used once. The acupuncturist may give advice about food, exercise, and sleep.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for centuries. It's based on the theory that energy, called chi (say "chee"), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians. Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance. Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body for a healing effect and is most commonly used to treat pain.

What is acupuncture therapy used for?

Acupuncture can treat many conditions. We will use it to treat chronic low back pain. Acupuncture decreases inflammation and pain. Treatment may be given once or twice a week depending on the patient’s needs. Acupuncture points can become active when there is injury or illness. Acupuncture needles affect areas at or near an acupuncture point. They can also send a signal to other areas of the body including the brain.

Does acupuncture needling hurt?

Commonly, no it does not hurt because the needles are very thin. When an acupuncture needle is put in at a point, a patient might feel nothing at all or a small sting. You might feel mild discomfort, but it should go away once the needles are in place. If the discomfort lasts, please tell the acupuncturist. Most patients feel very relaxed during and after acupuncture treatment.

How long does an acupuncture session last?

Acupuncture sessions are typically about 60 minutes. Your acupuncturist will spend some of this time asking questions and may palpate the part of your back and related areas where you feel pain to understand the problem.

Are the acupuncture needles clean?

Yes, the needles are new and only used once. They are sterilized before your appointment.

Can I get acupuncture on top of my clothes?

No, you will need to remove clothing over the area where you will receive acupuncture treatment. Draping procedures will be followed, as is usual for health care appointments.

Are acupuncturists professionally trained?

All study acupuncturists are very experienced and licensed by the State where they are practicing with approved professional acupuncture education and training.

What else can acupuncture treat?

While this study focuses on chronic low back pain, acupuncture can be used to treat acute and chronic pain in other parts of the body, nausea, vomiting, headaches, stress, and other health issues.

How big are the needles?

Acupuncture needles are solid, stainless steel needles that are usually not much larger than a strand of hair.

How long will I need to keep the needles in?

Each acupuncture treatment session can last up to an hour with the length of needle insertion dependent on specific needs of the patient (usually 5-25 minutes).

Contact Us

For more information please call our study line at 1-833-942-2844 and leave your name, study/reference ID, phone number, and the best time to reach you. Our staff will return your call within 2 business days.