Five Recommendations to Address the Limitations of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

Chaplaincy and spiritual care in Australian ambulance services: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Ambulance staff wellbeing programs aim to support the bio-psycho-social and sometimes spiritual needs of paramedics. While evidence demonstrates strong connections between spirituality and/or religion to wellbeing outcomes, little is known about spiritual care in ambulance services or its impact. The aim of this study was to investigate paramedics' perspectives on the role and value of Australian ambulance chaplains. A cross-sectional online study of registered paramedics in Australia was conducted between November and December 2022. Analysis of the 150 responses identified that paramedics viewed the chaplain's role as one built on professional caring relationships that provided proactive and reactive care in paramedic workplaces. Chaplains were perceived to promote wellbeing by incorporating emotional, psychological, social and spiritual care, and assisting paramedics to access additional support. Perceived religiousness of chaplains and organisational factors were barriers to paramedics accessing chaplains, while pre-existing relationships and shared experiences positively influenced paramedics decision to seek chaplain support.

Implementation of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure: A Quality Improvement Project

ABSTRACT

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are seen as increasingly beneficial to patient-centered clinical practice, but implementation of routine collection and utilization into clinical care can be challenging. Our interdisciplinary quality improvement (QI) team used the Institute for Health Care Improvement Model for Improvement methodology to address this problem in our outpatient neurorehabilitation program. We used a participatory approach to identify the PROM rehabilitation stakeholders found to be most appropriate to implement in the outpatient settings; chart audits were conducted to determine the extent to which clinicians implemented the PROM and documented a PROM-related goal. Opportunistic clinician feedback was collected to determine single PROM usefulness and acceptability. Our 4-month initiative demonstrated increased collection of a PROM, the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and incorporation into patient-centered goal. Use of QI methodology was beneficial when planning and executing our initiative. Future work is needed to examine factors to sustain PSFS use, incorporation into patient-centered goal setting, and maximize meaningful patient outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of older adults with acute COVID-19 following inpatient geriatric rehabilitation: a prospective cohort study from the Republic of Ireland

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of research reporting the long-term outcomes of older adults who have completed geriatric rehabilitation following COVID-19.

AIM

The primary aim of this study is to describe the long-term functional outcomes of a cohort of older adults with acute COVID-19 who have completed inpatient geriatric rehabilitation.

METHODS

This is a subgroup analysis of Irish data from a pan-European prospective cohort study. Functional ability, patient reported symptoms, and quality of life were measured using the Barthel index, the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Screen, and the EQ-5D-5L, respectively.

RESULTS

Thirty patients enrolled in the study. The rate of mortality was 23.3% at 6 months after discharge from rehabilitation. Patients achieved a return to pre-admission functional ability but reported a significant increase in patient reported symptoms and their quality of life did not return to pre-admission levels when assessed at 6 months after discharge from rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for older adults with acute COVID-19 infection can assist patients to return to their premorbid functional ability. On discharge from rehabilitation, ongoing follow-up of older adults is recommended to assist them to negotiate and manage ongoing symptomatology such as breathlessness or fatigue.

The Effect of Concomitant Spinal Cord Injury on Postoperative Health-related Quality of Life After Traumatic Subaxial Cervical Spine Injuries: A Nationwide Registry Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of spinal cord injury (SCI) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients surgically treated for traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries and investigate the agreement between objective neurologic outcomes and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in that context.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study on prospectively collected multi-institutional registry data.

SETTING

Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with traumatic subaxial spine injuries identified in the Swedish Spine Registry (Swespine) between 2006 and 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

Anterior, posterior, or anteroposterior cervical fixation surgery.

MAIN OUTCOMES

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) consisting of EQ-5D-3Lindex and Neck Disability Index (NDI).

RESULTS

Among the 418 identified patients, 93 (22%) had a concomitant SCI. In this group, 30 (32%) had a complete SCI (Frankel A), and the remainder had incomplete SCIs (17%) Frankel B; 25 (27%) Frankel C; 22 (24%) Frankel D. PROMs significantly correlated with the Frankel grade (P<.001). However, post hoc analysis revealed that the differences between adjacent Frankel grades failed to reach both statistical and clinical significance. On univariable linear regression, the Frankel grade was a significant predictor of a specific index derived from the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire (EQ-5D-3Lindex) at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively as well as the NDI at 1 and 2 years postoperatively (P<.001). Changes of PROMs over time from 1, to 2, and 5 years postoperatively did not reach statistical significance, regardless of the presence and degree of SCI (P>.05).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the Frankel grade significantly correlated with the EQ-5D-3Lindex and NDI and was a significant predictor of PROMs at 1, 2, and 5 years. PROMs were stable beyond 1 year postoperatively regardless of the severity of the SCI.

Contextual Factors-Enriched Standard Care on mechanical neck pain (ContextualizAR trial): Protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Understanding the influence of contextual factors (CFs) on interventions for mechanical neck pain (MNP) is essential for evidence-based practice in physical therapy. However, the specific effects and synergies of combining different CFs remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study will be to determine if a CFs-Enriched Standard Care (SC) approach is an effective treatment for MNP in terms of reducing pain and improving function.

METHODS

This will be an assessor-blinded, 2-group (1:1) randomised clinical trial (RCT) aiming to enrol 94 participants with neck pain persisting for more than 4 weeks. Both groups will undergo 4 weeks of SC twice weekly, following established clinical practice guidelines. In the intervention group, CFs will be enhanced, encompassing the physical, psychological, and social elements inherent in the clinical encounter, based on existing evidence. The primary outcomes will encompass changes in pain and disability after 4 weeks of treatment, with a follow-up reassessment at week 12 post-treatment. Secondary outcomes will include changes in Active Range of Motion, Global Rating of Change, and Satisfaction with treatment. The change between groups after treatment and at the 12-week follow-up will be reported for all outcomes, considering the difference from scores recorded at baseline.

RESULTS

We hypothesise that a 4-week CFs-Enriched SC approach will be superior to SC alone in terms of patient-reported disability and pain, with measurements conducted using the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This RCT rigorously assesses the effect of purposeful manipulation of CFs during MNP treatment. By elucidating the role of these factors, our findings have the potential to significantly refine clinical practice in managing MNP, thereby enhancing patient care, and advancing the fields of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Self-reported competence among advanced practice nursing students in Denmark, Finland and Norway: a cross-sectional multicentre study

BACKGROUND

The health care systems in the Nordic countries and worldwide are under pressure due to increased longevity and a shortage of nurses. Providing nurses with a high level of education, such as advanced practice nursing, is of great importance to ensure effective, safe and high-quality care.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported competence using the Nurse Professional Competence Scale Short-Form for the first time among master's students of advanced practice nursing in the Nordic countries and to relate the findings to age, work obligations, child-rearing responsibilities, level of education and clinical nursing experience.

METHODS

A multicentre, cross-sectional design was used in this study conducted at five universities in Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Nurse Professional Competence Scale Short-Form consisting of six competence areas was used with a maximum score of 7 per item for the analysis of single items and a transformed scale from 14.3 to 100 for analysing the competence areas (higher score equals higher self-reported competence). Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

The highest mean score was found for the competence area 'Value-based nursing care'. Students living with home-dwelling children (≤ 18 years) reported significantly higher competence in 'Nursing care', while students ≥33 years reported significantly higher competence in 'Nursing care' and 'Value-based nursing care'. No significant differences were found between students working and those not working alongside their studies, between students with and without further nursing-related education, or between students with long and short experience as nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study might help to further develop curricula in advanced practice nursing master's programmes to ensure high-quality nursing and sustainable health care in the future. Future high-quality master's programmes might benefit from systematic collaboration between Nordic higher education institutions as also Sweden is planning master's programme. Higher age, having children at home and working while studying should not be considered causes for concern.

Complementing Braden scale for pressure ulcer risk with clinical and demographic-related factors in a large cohort of hospitalized Italian patients

AIMS

To determine the prevalence, risk, and determinants of pressure ulcer risk in a large cohort of hospitalized patients.

DESIGN

A prospective cross-sectional study with data collection in January 2023.

METHODS

Registered nurses collected data from 798 patients admitted to 27 health care units of an Italian hospital. The pressure ulcer risk was assessed using the Braden scale. The presence of comorbidities was collected from clinical reports. Obesity was assessed according to international indicators (Body Mass Index). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of different Braden scores for identifying participants with pressure ulcers.

RESULTS

The prevalence of pressure ulcers was 9.5%, and 57.4% of the sample were at risk of developing pressure ulcers. The area under the ROC curve was 0.88. The best sensitivity and specificity were found for a Braden cutoff score of 15.5 (sensibility = 0.76; specificity = 0.85). The determinants of lower Braden scores were older age (p < 0.001), comorbidities (p < 0.001), wounds of other nature (p = 0.001), urinary incontinence (p < 0.001), fecal incontinence (p < 0.001), and urinary catheterization (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Several demographic factors and specific clinical indicators have been identified as determinants of the risk of developing pressure ulcers, which are easily ascertainable by healthcare providers; thus, they may routinely complement the Braden Scale in the assessment of pressure ulcer risk in order to reinforce and accelerate clinical judgment.

The prevalence of chronic pain in adolescents in Central Switzerland: A cross- sectional school-based study protocol

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is associated with substantial personal suffering and societal costs and is a growing healthcare concern worldwide. While chronic pain has been extensively studied in adults, limited data exists on its prevalence and impact in adolescents. Understanding the prevalence and impact of chronic pain and pain beliefs in adolescents is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This study aims to estimate the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of chronic pain, and explore adolescents' knowledge and beliefs about pain.

METHODS

This is an observational cohort study of school-going adolescents aged 11 to 17 years in Central Switzerland. The study will estimate the point prevalence, characteristics (location, intensity, frequency, duration) and impact (PROMIS Pediatric Short Form v2.0 -Pain Interference Scale, PPIS) of chronic pain in school-going adolescents. We will also measure and investigate pupils' beliefs about pain (Concept of Pain Inventory (COPI)). Data will be collected through manual and digital self-report questionnaires and from participants in primary, secondary, and high schools between September 2023 and January 2024.

ANALYSES

The primary analyses will utilise descriptive statistics to estimate the point prevalence, characteristics, and impact of chronic pain. Secondary analyses will analyse associations and correlations between chronic pain, impact of pain and beliefs about pain.

OUTCOMES

This study will provide an estimate of the prevalence, characteristics and impact of chronic pain in adolescents in Central Switzerland and a measure of adolescents' understanding and beliefs about pain. In doing so, this study will provide insights into the scale of chronic pain as a public health concern. By understanding adolescents' pain beliefs and their influence on pain experience, this study can contribute to the development of educational approaches to enhance adolescents' knowledge and understanding of pain in order to optimise the prevention and treatment of chronic pain in adolescents. The findings may be useful to healthcare professionals and funders, policymakers, and researchers involved in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of pain in adolescents.

Does manual therapy meaningfully change quantitative sensory testing and patient reported outcome measures in patients with musculoskeletal impairments related to the spine?: A 'trustworthy' systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To perform a 'trustworthy' systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis on the potential mechanisms of manual therapy used to treat spinal impairments.

DESIGN

SR with meta-analysis.

LITERATURE SEARCH

Articles published between January 2010 and October 2022 from CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest, and PEDro.

METHODS

This SR included English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) involving manual therapy to treat spinal impairments in adults. The primary outcome was pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). To synthesize RCTs with high confidence in estimated effects using the GRADE, RCTs with questionable prospective, external, and internal validity, and high risk of bias (RoB) were excluded.

RESULTS

Following title and abstract screening, 89 full-text RCTs were reviewed. Twenty-two studies included the criteria of interest. Sixteen were not prospectively registered, two contained discussion/conclusions judged to be inconsistent with the registry, and one was rated as having a high RoB. Three studies met the inclusion criteria; heterogeneous interventions and locations for PPT testing prevented synthesis into practice recommendations. The two studies with high confidence in estimated effects had small effect sizes, and one study had confidence intervals that crossed zero for the outcome measures of interest.

DISCUSSION

Standardized PPT testing, as a potential measure of centrally mediated pain, could provide clues regarding the mechanisms of manual therapy or help identify/refine research questions.

CONCLUSION

High-quality RCTs could not be synthesized into strong conclusions secondary to the dissimilarity in research designs. Future research regarding quantitative sensory testing should develop RCTs with high confidence in estimated effects that can be translated into strong recommendations.

A social media analysis of patient-perceived complications following periacetabular osteotomy (PAO): a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Social media is a popular resource for patients seeking medical information and sharing experiences. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an accepted treatment for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia with a low published complication profile in specialty centers. Little is known regarding patient reporting of complications on social media following PAO. The purpose of this study was to describe the patient-perceived complications of PAO posted on social media and analyze how additional factors (postoperative timeframe, concomitant surgery) correlate with these complication posts.

METHODS

Facebook and Instagram were queried from 02/01/18-02/01/23; Twitter was searched over an extended range back to 02/01/11. Facebook posts (1054) were collected from the two most populated interest groups; "Periacetabular Osteotomy" and "PAO Australia." Instagram posts (1003) and Tweets (502) were found using the same five most popular hashtags: #PAOwarrior, #periacetabularosteotomy, #periacetabularosteotomysurgery, #PAOsurgery, and #PAOrecovery. Posts were assessed for demographic data, perspective, timing (early postoperative or late postoperative), additional surgeries, type of complication, and post engagement.

RESULTS

Facebook posts (1054), Instagram posts (1003), and Tweets (502) were assessed; 13.6% of posts included a complication. The majority of complications were reported > 6 months postoperatively with excessive pain being the most common complication (57.2%), including chronic pain (41.8%), acute pain (6.7%), and nerve pain (8.8%). Bony complications (6.7%), neurologic/psychiatric complications (3.8%), swelling (1.7%), infection (1.4%), other specified complications (16.2%), and unspecified complications (10.2%) were reported. Complication posts were found to be correlated with postoperative timeframe and concomitant surgery. Post engagement decreased in complication-related posts.

CONCLUSIONS

Few patients posted a perceived complication associated with PAO surgery. Of those who did, the majority reported unmanageable pain during the late postoperative period. Posts including a perceived complication were found to be positively correlated with postoperative timeframe and negatively correlated with concomitant surgery. This study found a higher pain complication rate, but a lower overall complication rate compared to prior studies. Considering the social media reported complications of PAO patients in addition to traditional outcome measures reveals which aspects of postoperative recovery are most important to patients themselves.

Manual therapy for non-radicular cervical spine related impairments: establishing a 'Trustworthy' living systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To establish a 'trustworthy' living systematic review (SR) with a meta-analysis of manual therapy for treating non-radicular cervical impairments.

DESIGN

SR with meta-analysis.

LITERATURE SEARCH

Articles published between January 2010 and September 2022 were included from: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); CINAHL; MEDLINE; PubMed; PEDro, and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health.

METHODS

This SR included English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of manual therapy involving adults used to treat non-radicular cervical impairments. The primary outcomes were pain and region-specific outcome measures. Cervicogenic headaches and whiplash were excluded to improve homogeneity. Two reviewers independently assessed RCTs. The prospective plan was to synthesize results with high confidence in estimated effects using GRADE.

RESULTS

Thirty-five RCTs were screened for registration status. Twenty-eight were not registered or registered prospectively. In 5 studies, the discussion and conclusion did not match the registry, or this could not be determined. One study did not meet the external validity criterion, and another was rated as having a high risk of bias. One study met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, so practice recommendations could not be made. The remaining study did not identify any clinically meaningful group differences.

DISCUSSION

Only one prospectively registered RCT met this SR's strict, high-quality standards. The single identified paper provides initial high-quality evidence on this topic.

CONCLUSION

This SR establishes a foundation of trustworthiness and can be used to generate research agendas to determine the potential clinical utility of manual therapy directed at the cervical spine for non-radicular cervical complaints.

Lack of standardization in dry needling dosage and adverse event documentation limits outcome and safety reports: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

OBJECTIVES

Examine: (1) whether variability in dry needling (DN) dosage affects pain outcomes, (2) if effect sizes are clinically important, and (3) how adverse events (AE) were documented and whether DN safety was determined.

METHODS

Nine databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating DN in symptomatic musculoskeletal disorders. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Included RCTs met PEDro criteria #1 and scored > 7/10. Data extraction included DN dosage, pain outcome measures, dichotomous AE reporting (yes/no), and AE categorization. Clinically meaningful differences were determined using the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for pain outcomes .

RESULTS

Out of 22 identified RCTs, 11 demonstrated significant between-group differences exceeding the MCID, suggesting a clinically meaningful change in pain outcomes. Nine documented whether AE occurred. Only five provided AEs details and four cited a standard means to report AE.

DISCUSSION

There was inconsistency in reporting DN dosing parameters and AE. We could not determine if DN dosing affects outcomes, whether DN consistently produces clinically meaningful changes, or establish optimal dosage. Without more detailed reporting, replication of methods in future investigations is severely limited. A standardized method is lacking to report, classify, and provide context to AE from DN. Without more detailed AE reporting in clinical trials investigating DN efficacy, a more thorough appraisal of relative risk, severity, and frequency was not possible. Based on these inconsistencies, adopting a standardized checklist for reporting DN dosage and AE may improve internal and external validity and the generalizability of results.

Prognostic factors associated with improvements in patient-reported outcomes in idiopathic adhesive capsulitis

Background

The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors that are associated with improvements in patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) related to upper extremity function and pain in those suffering from idiopathic adhesive capsulitis.

Methods

All patients treated conservatively for primary idiopathic adhesive capsulitis were identified from our institutional database between 2019 and 2021. Exclusion criteria included any patients treated surgically, follow-up less than one year, or incomplete survey results. PROMs including Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity Computer Adaptive Test Version 2.0 (P-UE), Pain Interference (P-Interference), Pain Intensity (P-Intensity), and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. They were obtained at initial consultation and at one year to assess patient-perceived impact of their condition. Multiple linear and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with improvement in patient-perceived pain and shoulder function using final PROM scores and difference in PROM scores from initial consultation. An independent t-test was used to compare baseline and one-year minimum follow-up PROMs. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each factor; a P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 56 patients (40 females and 16 males) were enrolled in the study with an average age of 54.7 ± 7.7 years. A significant improvement (P < .001) was demonstrated at one-year minimum outcomes for P-UE, P-Interference, P-Intensity, and VAS scores. With respect to comorbid conditions, hypothyroidism [P-UE (β: 9.57, P = .006)] was associated with greater improvements in PROMs, while hyperlipidemia [P-UE (β: -4.13, P = .01) and P-Intensity (β: 2.40, P = .02)] and anxiety [P-UE (β: -4.13, P = .03)] were associated with poorer reported changes in PROMs. Female sex [P-UE (β: 4.03, P = .007) and P-Interference (β: -2.65, P = .04)] and employment in manual labor professions [P-Interference (β: -3.07, P = .01), P-Intensity (β: -2.92, P = .006), and VAS (β: -0.66, P = .03)] were associated with significantly better patient-perceived outcomes. Hispanic heritage was associated with higher reported changes of P-Intensity (β: 8.45, P = .004) and VAS (β: 2.65, P = .002).

Conclusion

Patient-perceived improvements in PROMIS score during the natural history of adhesive capsulitis are likely multifactorial, with anxiety, hyperlipidemia, increased body mass index, and Hispanic heritage associated with reduced improvement in PROMIS scores.

Multidimensional pain profiling in people living with obesity and attending weight management services: a protocol for a longitudinal cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Pain is prevalent in people living with overweight and obesity. Obesity is associated with increased self-reported pain intensity and pain-related disability, reductions in physical functioning and poorer psychological well-being. People living with obesity tend to respond less well to pain treatments or management compared with people living without obesity. Mechanisms linking obesity and pain are complex and may include contributions from and interactions between physiological, behavioural, psychological, sociocultural, biomechanical and genetic factors. Our aim is to study the multidimensional pain profiles of people living with obesity, over time, in an attempt to better understand the relationship between obesity and pain.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This longitudinal observational cohort study will recruit (n=216) people living with obesity and who are newly attending three weight management services in Ireland. Participants will complete questionnaires that assess their multidimensional biopsychosocial pain experience at baseline and at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months post-recruitment. Quantitative analyses will characterise the multidimensional pain experiences and trajectories of the cohort as a whole and in defined subgroups.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics and Medical Research Committee of St Vincent's Healthcare Group, Dublin, Ireland (reference no: RS21-059) and the University College Dublin Human Research Ethics Committee (reference no: LS-E-22-41-Hinwood-Smart). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, public and patient advocacy groups, and social media.

STUDY REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QCWUE.

Patient-reported outcome measures as an outcome variable in sports medicine research

Injury prevention and rehabilitation research often address variables that would be considered clinician-oriented outcomes, such as strength, range of motion, laxity, and return-to-sport. While clinician-oriented variables are helpful in describing the physiological recovery from injury, they neglect the patient perspective and aspects of patient-centered care. Variables that capture patient perspective are essential when considering the impact of injury and recovery on the lives of patients. The inclusion of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as dependent variables in sports medicine research, including injury prevention and rehabilitation research, provides a unique perspective regarding the patient's perception of their health status, the effectiveness of treatments, and other information that the patient deems important to their care. Over the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of PROMs in sports medicine research. The growing body of work gives opportunity to reflect on what has been done and to provide some ideas of how to strengthen the evidence moving forward. This mini-review will discuss ideas for the inclusion of PROMs in sports medicine research, with a focus on critical factors, gaps, and future directions in this area of research. Important elements of research with PROMs, including instrument selection, administration, and interpretation, will be discussed and areas for improvement, consideration, and standardization will be provided.

Physical functioning outcome measures in the lumbar spinal surgery population and measurement properties of the physical outcome measures: protocol for a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Low back pain can lead to substantial decline in physical functioning. For disabling pain not responsive to conservative management, surgical intervention can enhance physical functioning. Measurements of physical functioning include patient-reported outcome measures and physical outcome measures using evaluations of impairments, performance on a standardised task or activity in a natural environment. Selecting outcome measures with adequate measurement properties is fundamental to evaluating effectiveness of interventions. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify outcome measures (patient reported and physical) used to evaluate physical functioning (stage 1) and assess the measurement properties of physical outcome measures of physical functioning (stage 2) in the lumbar spinal surgery population.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol aligns with the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Using a two-staged approach, searches will be performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro and the grey literature from inception until 15 December 2021. Stage 1 will identify studies evaluating physical functioning with patient-reported or physical outcome measures in the lumbar spinal surgery population. Stage 2 will search for studies evaluating measurement properties (validity, reliability, responsiveness) of the physical outcome measures identified in stage 1 in the lumbar spinal surgery population. Two independent reviewers will evaluate studies for inclusion, extract data, assess risk of bias (COSMIN risk of bias tool and checklist) and quality of evidence (modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach). Results for each measurement property per physical outcome measure will be quantitatively pooled if there is adequate clinical and methodological homogeneity or qualitatively synthesised if there is high heterogeneity in studies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publication and conference presentation.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021293880.

How is recovery defined and measured in patients with low back pain? Protocol for a mixed study systematic review

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes the methods for a mixed study systematic review aiming to explore the definitions and measurements of recovery in patients with low back pain, and how perspectives of recovery differ between patients and providers. This review will be the first to review the concept of recovery in patients with low back pain across both quantitative and qualitative literature.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol has been designed and reported in line with Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. The following databases will be electronically searched from database inception until 30 November 2021: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, PEDro. Grey literature will be searched for through targeted searching of ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and handsearching of the references of all included studies. Studies will be included if they include a patient population of >50% with low back pain (with or without leg pain), and mention the concept of recovery within the abstract, methods or results. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will be used for quality assessment of both quantitative and qualitative included studies. Two independent reviewers will conduct the search, screen titles/abstracts and extract relevant data from full texts. Discrepancies between reviewers will be settled by a third reviewer with spinal pain expertise. For syntheses, thematic analysis will be used to analyse both qualitative and quantitative investigations to explore meanings, measurement and perspectives of recovery from a diverse evidence base. There is no clinical trial associated with this protocol.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

There are no ethical issues associated with this systematic review, and ethics approval was not required. Once completed, the results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal within the realm of spinal pain to help guide future research inquiries.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022295804.