Matthew K Bagg

RESEARCHER PROFILE

PhD Candidate

m.bagg@neura.edu.au

Epidemiology & Population Health Pain Back pain

Matthew is a clinical scientist and physiotherapist, nearing completion of his PhD. Matthew’s PhD work aims to improve treatment for persistent back pain through improved understanding of current treatments and development of new treatments. Back pain is a common, costly and disabling condition. People experience little to no benefit, on average, from available treatments.

Medicines (given for pain relief) are the most common treatment, yet the research available to guide their use is lacking in some areas. Matthew’s research (within the Medicines for Back Pain program) uses published and unpublished sources of clinical trial information to fill these gaps and increase the research available to guide clinical decision-making.

Treatments targeting brain function are a promising, novel, approach to treatment of back pain. These treatments have been developed because research indicates the brain and nervous system are importantly involved in the back pain experience. We developed two treatment programs and tested them in the RESOLVE Trial). We have completed recruitment and are preparing to analyse the results.

You can follow Matthew’s research below and here.

In addition to his research focus, Matthew is passionately engaged with clinical practice and research more broadly. Matthew is an active member of the Australian Pain Society, Sports Medicine Australia, the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Living Evidence Network. Matthew sits on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Education and Training Committee, which strives to facilitate the use of evidence in clinical and research practice. Matthew is an Ambassador for the Centre for Open Science and a founding member of OPeRA (Open Pain Research Appraisal and Advocacy). OPeRA members are early-career scientists working together to conduct meta-science (research on how research is done) and advocate for transparent and open scientific practice. Transparent and open practice is important to allow users of research to understand and evaluate research whilst they use it. You can follow (and join) OPeRA’s work here.

Projects Matthew K Bagg is currently involved with

CURRENT PROJECTS

AGReMA – A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses


PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, DR HOPIN LEE, DR AIDAN CASHIN, MATTHEW K BAGG, RODRIGO RIZZO

There are a growing number of studies using mediation analysis to understand the mechanisms of health interventions and exposures. Recent work has shown that the reporting of these studies is heterogenous and incomplete. This problem stifles clinical application, reproducibility, and evidence synthesis. The development and implementation of A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses (AGReMA) will improve the standardization, transparency, and completeness in the reporting of studies that use mediation analysis to understand the mechanisms of health interventions and exposures.

AGReMA Publications

Cashin AG, McAuley JH, Lamb SE, Hopewell S, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Henschke N, Lee H. (2020). Development of A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses (AGReMA). BMC Med Res Methodol 20(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s12874-020-0915-5. PMID: 32013883

READ MORE

AGReMA – A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses

Medicines for Back Pain


DR MARKUS HüBSCHER, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, MATTHEW K BAGG, MICHAEL WEWEGE, MICHAEL FERRARO, RODRIGO RIZZO, HAYLEY LEAKE, PAULINE ZAHARA, EDEL O’HAGAN, DR AIDAN CASHIN, THIAGO FOLLY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, DR MATTHEW JONES, DR MARKUS HUEBSCHER

Medicines are the most common treatment for back pain. The aim of this program of research is to improve our understanding of the clinical effects of medicines.

Studies currently in progress:

  1. Scoping review of paracetamol, NSAIDs and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain (led by Matthew K Bagg). The objective of this study is to identify and describe the characteristics of available clinical trials of commonly used analgesic medicines for chronic low back pain. This information will inform the design and conduct of other studies in the research program.
  2. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis (led by Matthew K Bagg). The objective of this study is to produce information about the clinical effects of available analgesic medicines for chronic low back pain. This information will be available in a Cochrane review to assist clinical prescription of medicines. The protocol is published and available here.
  3. Prescribing practices of medicines for adults with low back pain: a systematic review (led by Michael Wewege). The objective of this study is to determine how different medicines are prescribed to adults with low back pain and how this differs across countries. The protocol for this study is being developed.
  4. Analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain: a network meta-analysis (led by Michael Wewege). The objective of this study is to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of a range of analgesic medicines for adults across different classifications of low back pain. The protocol for this study has been submitted for publication.
  5. Muscle relaxant medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Aidan Cashin and Thiago Folly). The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of muscle relaxant medicines for adults with low back pain. The protocol is available here.
  6. Novel biologic medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Rodrigo Rizzo). The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of novel biologic medicines for adults with low back pain. The protocol is available here.

Completed studies:

  1. Evaluation of the impact of unpublished data from clinical trial registries on the effects of medicines for low back pain (led by Matthew Bagg). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference between clinical trial data that are published and those that are not published. The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
  2. Antidepressant medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Michael Ferraro). The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of antidepressant medicines for adults with low back pain. The findings have been submitted for publication. The protocol is available here.

Medicines for Back Pain – Publications:

  • Bagg MK, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Henschke N, Wand BM, Moseley GL, Hübscher M, O’Connell NE, van Tulder MW, Nikolakopoulou A, McAuley JH. (2018). Paracetamol, NSAIDS and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis [Protocol]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 6. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013045. PMCID: PMC6513465
  • Bagg MK, O’Hagan E, Zahara P, Wand BM, Hübscher M, Moseley GL, McAuley JH. (2020). Reviews may overestimate the effectiveness of medicines for back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. doi: 10.1016/ j.jclinepi.2019.12.006. PMID: 31816418

Medicines for Back Pain – Registrations of Study Protocols:

  • Folly T, Bagg MK, Wewege M, Ferraro MC, Schabrun S, Gustin SM, Day R, McAuley JH. (2019) UMbRELLA: Understanding efficacy and safety of Muscle RELaxant medicines for Low back pain – systematic Literature review and meta-Analysis (protocol).Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/xuw5h
  • Rizzo RN, Bagg MK, Ferraro MC, Wewege M, Cashin A, Leake HB, O’Hagan E, Jones M, McAuley JH. (2020). Efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophic factors in the management of low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/zax6d
  • Ferraro MC, Bagg MK, McAuley JH. (2019). RADICAL: Systematic Review of Anti-Depressant Medicines if Considered Analgesics for Low Back Pain (protocol). Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/cedm3

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Medicines for Back Pain

RESOLVE Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain


DR MARKUS HüBSCHER, DR HOPIN LEE, RODRIGO RIZZO, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, PROFESSOR LORIMER MOSELEY, DR MARKUS HUEBSCHER, MATTHEW K BAGG, DR AIDAN CASHIN, EDEL O’HAGAN, HAYLEY LEAKE, ANIKA HAIGH
For people with long term back pain that is not getting better. We are testing two pain treatment programs that target the brain, for people with chronic low back pain.

READ MORE

RESOLVE Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain

BACK PAIN: HEALTH INFORMATION

THE BODY IN THE BRAIN – CASE

SPEAKER AT CENTRE FOR OPEN SCIENCE WEBINAR ON “ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE IN HOW SCIENCE IS CONDUCTED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD”, AUGUST 22 2019

INTERVIEW WITH DR MANUELA CALLARI FOR HER ARTICLE “THE BRAIN’S ROLE IN PAIN”, PUBLISHED IN LATERAL MAGAZINE ISSUE 29, OCTOBER 25, 2018

RESEARCH TEAM

DR SAURAB SHARMA Postdoctoral Research Fellow : saurab.sharma@neura.edu.au

YANNICK GILANYI Research Associate : y.gilanyi@neura.edu.au

BRISHNA SHAH Research Associate : b.shah@neura.edu.au

JACK DEVONSHIRE Honours Student : j.devonshire@neura.edu.au

HARRISON HANSFORD Honours Student : h.hansford@neura.edu.au

DR MARKUS HÜBSCHER Honorary Postdoctoral Research Fellow : m.huebscher@neura.edu.au

DR ADRIAN TRAEGER Postdoctoral Research Fellow : a.traeger@neura.edu.au

MICHAEL FERRARO Doctoral Candidate : 02 9399 1049
: m.ferraro@neura.edu.au

RODRIGO RIZZO PhD Candidate : r.rizzo@neura.edu.au

HAYLEY LEAKE Doctoral Candidate : h.leake@neura.edu.au

DR MATTHEW JONES Postdoctoral Research Fellow : matthew.jones@unsw.edu.au

MICHAEL WEWEGE Doctoral Candidate : m.wewege@neura.edu.au

THIAGO FOLLY Research Assistant

ANIKA HAIGH Research Assistant : a.haigh@neura.edu.au

PAULINE ZAHARA Clinical Trial Manager

DR IAN SKINNER Postdoctoral Research Fellow

DR HOPIN LEE Honorary Postdoctoral Research Fellow

DR AIDAN CASHIN Postdoctoral Research Fellow : 02 9399 1870
: a.cashin@neura.edu.au

EDEL O’HAGAN PhD Candidate : e.ohagan@neura.edu.au

SUPERVISORS

PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY Senior Research Scientist and Group Leader, NeuRA Director, Centre for Pain IMPACT Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney

Further information about Matthew K Bagg

RELATED INFORMATION

Qualifications

B.Physio(Hons), B.ExSpSci

Other Publications

  • Bagg MK, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Henschke N, Wand BM, Moseley GL, Hübscher M, O’Connell Neil E, van Tulder MW, Nikolakopoulou A, McAuley JH. (2018). Paracetamol, NSAIDS and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis [Protocol]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 6. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013045. PMCID: PMC6513465
  • Bagg MK Lo S, Cashin AG, Herbert RD, O’Connell NE, Lee H, Hübscher M, Wand BM, O’Hagan E, Rizzo RNR, Moseley GL, Stanton TR, Maher CG, Goodall S, Saing S, McAuley JH. (2020). The RESOLVE Trial for chronic low back pain: statistical analysis plan. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy (in press, accepted 3/6/20), available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.06.002

Pre-Prints and Registrations of Study Protocols

  • Rizzo RN, Bagg MK, Ferraro MC, Wewege M, Cashin A, Leake HB, O’Hagan E, Jones M, McAuley JH. (2020). Efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophic factors in the management of low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/zax6d
  • Ishaq I, Skinner IW, Mehta P, Verhagen A, Bagg MK, Bier J. (2020). Evaluating the Comparative Effectiveness of Clinically Relevant Interventions for Neck Pain. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/gyb9f/
  • Folly T, Bagg MK, Wewege M, Ferraro MC, Schabrun S, Gustin SM, Day R, McAuley JH. (2019) UMbRELLA: Understanding efficacy and safety of Muscle RELaxant medicines for Low back pain – systematic Literature review and meta-Analysis (protocol).Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/xuw5h
  • Ferraro MC, Bagg MK, McAuley JH. (2019). RADICAL: Systematic Review of Anti-Depressant Medicines if Considered Analgesics for Low Back Pain (protocol). Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/cedm3
  • Wewege MA, Bagg MK, Jones MD, McAuley JH. (2019). ANiMALIA: A Network Meta-Analysis of Medicines for Low Back Pain if Acute (pre-registration). Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/apwef
  • Cashin AG, Bagg MK, Lee H, Toomey E, Richards GC. (2019). Audit 2 – pain journal policies in 2019.Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/7kajq
  • Boijsen F, Hill S, Bagg MK, Skinner I, O’Hagan E, Birznieks I, Vickery RM, McAuley JH. (2017). Apparent motion over the lower back. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/b85qp
  • Bagg MK, O’Hagan E, Wand BM, Hübscher, Moseley GL, McAuley JH. (2017). Does data from trial registries influence effect size? A sensitivity analysis of recent meta-analyses of pharmacological interventions for pain in people with low back pain [Study Protocol]. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/au982/
  • Bagg MK et al. (2016). Does Size Matter? Brain Structure in Low Back Pain. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/g79jy

PUBLICATIONS

Clarification of Reporting of Outcome Measures and Protocol Deviations in Report of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Skinner IW, Cashin AG, Bagg MK
JAMA Neurol. 2019 Jan;():. doi: 30667457. Epub 2019 Jan.

Reproducible and replicable pain research: a critical review.

Lee H, Lamb SE, Bagg MK, Toomey E, Cashin AG, Moseley GL
Pain. 2018 Sep;159(9):1683-1689. doi: 29697535. Epub 2018 Apr.

Correspondence: Living systematic reviews.

Bagg MK, McAuley JH
J Physiother. 2018 Apr;64(2):133. doi: 29661377. Epub 2018 Apr.
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