Stratified Targeted Engagement From Primary Care to Physical Therapy (STEPPT)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a health system intervention called "Stratified Targeted Engagement from Primary Care to Physical Therapy (STEPPT)" can improve how often doctors refer Hispanic patients with spine pain to physical therapy (referral rate) and how often patients attend physical therapy after being referred (adherence rate). The main questions this study aims to answer are 1) does STEPPT improve physical therapy referral and adherence rates compared to usual care for Hispanic patients with spine pain who seek care in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving low income communities, and 2) how consistently do FQHC providers and staff deliver STEPPT to patients who may benefit? STEPPT will train doctors and other health care providers to educate participants on the benefits of physical therapy for spine pain and participants will receive culturally tailored handouts and videos to teach them about their spine pain and what to expect in physical therapy. Patients will also receive personalized assistance to schedule their physical therapy appointment and address potential barriers for attending the appointment.

NCT Number	NCT07290361
Lead Sponsor	San Diego State University Collaborators: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Family Health Centers of San Diego
Conditions	Low Back Pain, Neck Pain
Enrollment	17,587 participants
Start Date	2025-12-01
Primary Completion	2028-08-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-02-28 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-08-14