Timeline | Action | Â |
---|---|---|
Week 0 | Telephone screen conducted by one of the investigators | receive patient information statement verbal consent complete telephone screening questionnaire to determine eligibility eligible individuals are invited to attend baseline assessment conducted in groups of 8 individuals |
Week 1 | Baseline Assessment administered by blinded assessor | sign patient informed consent complete demographic data complete baseline questionnaires |
 | Randomization | generation: using sealed opaque envelopes containing allocation sequence generated by a computer random number function allocation: the unblinded tai chi instructor will assign participants to one of two groups the tai chi intervention group or the wait-list control group |
Week 2 – 11 | Intervention conducted by un-blinded investigator | Tai chi group: 2 × 40 min group sessions/week for 8 weeks 1 × 40 min group session/week for 2 weeks |
 |  | Wait-list control group: Continue with pre-established usual health care After follow-up assessment is complete, participant can join in tai chi program identical to that of intervention |
 | Assessments during intervention administered via email by blinded assessor | Both groups will receive a bi-weekly questionnaire asking them to list the health care services they have used for their back symptoms |
Week 12 | Follow-up Assessment administered by blinded assessor | administered by blinded assessor complete follow-up questionnaires after assessment, blinded assessor will leave and tai chi instructor will hand-out certificates of completion to tai chi group and schedule wait-list control group for tai chi program |