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Amundsen PA, Evans DW, Rajendran D, Bright P, Bjørkli T, Eldridge S, Buchbinder R, Underwood M, Froud R. Inclusion and exclusion criteria used in non-specific low back pain trials: a review of randomised controlled trials published between 2006 and 2012. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2018; 19:113. [PMID: 29650015 PMCID: PMC5898037 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-018-2034-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low back pain is a common health complaint resulting in substantial economic burden. Each year, upwards of 20 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions for non-specific low back pain are published. Use of the term non-specific low back pain has been criticised on the grounds of encouraging heterogeneity and hampering interpretation of findings due to possible heterogeneous causes, challenging meta-analyses. We explored selection criteria used in trials of treatments for nsLBP. Methods A systematic review of English-language reports of RCTs in nsLBP population samples, published between 2006 and 2012, identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases, using a mixed-methods approach to analysis. Study inclusion and exclusion criteria were extracted, thematically categorised, and then descriptive statistics were used to summarise the prevalence by emerging category. Results We included 168 studies. Two inclusion themes (anatomical area, and symptoms and signs) were identified. Anatomical area was most reported as between costal margins and gluteal folds (n = 8, 5%), while low back pain (n = 150, 89%) with or without referred leg pain (n = 27, 16%) was the most reported symptom. Exclusion criteria comprised 21 themes. Previous or scheduled surgery (n = 84, 50%), pregnancy (n = 81, 48%), malignancy (n = 78, 46%), trauma (n = 63, 37%) and psychological conditions (n = 58, 34%) were the most common. Sub-themes of exclusion criteria mostly related to neurological signs and symptoms: nerve root compromise (n = 44, 26%), neurological signs (n = 34, 20%) or disc herniation (n = 30, 18%). Specific conditions that were most often exclusion criteria were spondylolisthesis (n = 35, 21%), spinal stenosis (n = 31, 18%) or osteoporosis (n = 27, 16%). Conclusion RCTs of interventions for non-specific low back pain have incorporated diverse inclusion and exclusion criteria. Guidance on standardisation of inclusion and exclusion criteria for nsLBP trials will increase clinical homogeneity, facilitating greater interpretation of between-trial comparisons and meta-analyses. We propose a template for reporting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-018-2034-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pål André Amundsen
- Institute of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.
| | - David W Evans
- Institute of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.,Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Dévan Rajendran
- Institute of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.,European School of Osteopathy, The Street, Boxley, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3DZ, UK
| | - Philip Bright
- European School of Osteopathy, The Street, Boxley, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3DZ, UK
| | - Tom Bjørkli
- Institute of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandra Eldridge
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AB, UK
| | - Rachelle Buchbinder
- Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Suite 41, Cabrini Medical Centre, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria, 3144, Australia
| | - Martin Underwood
- Warwick Clinical Trials Unit. Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Robert Froud
- Institute of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.,Warwick Clinical Trials Unit. Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Froud R, Patel S, Rajendran D, Bright P, Bjørkli T, Buchbinder R, Eldridge S, Underwood M. A Systematic Review of Outcome Measures Use, Analytical Approaches, Reporting Methods, and Publication Volume by Year in Low Back Pain Trials Published between 1980 and 2012: Respice, adspice, et prospice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164573. [PMID: 27776141 PMCID: PMC5077121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing patient-reported outcome measures in the 1980s and 1990s led to the development of recommendations at the turn of the millennium for standardising outcome measures in non-specific low back pain (LBP) trials. Whether these recommendations impacted use is unclear. Previous work has examined citation counts, but actual use and change over time, has not been explored. Since 2011, there has been some consensus on the optimal methods for reporting back pain trial outcomes. We explored reporting practice, outcome measure use, and publications over time. METHODS We performed a systematic review of LBP trials, searching the European Guidelines for the management of LBP, extending the search to 2012. We abstracted data on publications by year, outcome measure use, analytical approach, and approaches taken to reporting trials outcomes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. RESULTS We included 401 trials. The number of published trials per year has increased by a factor of 4.5 from 5.4 (1980-1999) to 24.4 (2000-2012). The most commonly used outcome measures have been the Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity, which has slowly increased in use since 1980/81 from 20% to 60% of trials by 2012, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, which rose to 55% in 2002/2003, and then fell back to 28% by 2012. Most trialists (85%) report between-group mean differences. Few (8%) report individual improvements, and some (4%) report only within-group analyses. Student's t test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA regression, or mixed models, were the most common approaches to analysis. CONCLUSIONS Recommendations for standardising outcomes may have had a limited or inconsistent effect on practice. Since the research community is again considering outcome measures and modifying recommendations, groups offering recommendations should be cognisant that better ways of generating trialist buy-in may be required in order for their recommendations to have impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Froud
- Department of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Shilpa Patel
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Dévan Rajendran
- European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Bright
- European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Bjørkli
- Department of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rachelle Buchbinder
- Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sandra Eldridge
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Underwood
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Froud R, Bjørkli T, Bright P, Rajendran D, Buchbinder R, Underwood M, Evans D, Eldridge S. The effect of journal impact factor, reporting conflicts, and reporting funding sources, on standardized effect sizes in back pain trials: a systematic review and meta-regression. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2015; 16:370. [PMID: 26620449 PMCID: PMC4663726 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-015-0825-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low back pain is a common and costly health complaint for which there are several moderately effective treatments. In some fields there is evidence that funder and financial conflicts are associated with trial outcomes. It is not clear whether effect sizes in back pain trials relate to journal impact factor, reporting conflicts of interest, or reporting funding. METHODS We performed a systematic review of English-language papers reporting randomised controlled trials of treatments for non-specific low back pain, published between 2006-2012. We modelled the relationship using 5-year journal impact factor, and categories of reported of conflicts of interest, and categories of reported funding (reported none and reported some, compared to not reporting these) using meta-regression, adjusting for sample size, and publication year. We also considered whether impact factor could be predicted by the direction of outcome, or trial sample size. RESULTS We could abstract data to calculate effect size in 99 of 146 trials that met our inclusion criteria. Effect size is not associated with impact factor, reporting of funding source, or reporting of conflicts of interest. However, explicitly reporting 'no trial funding' is strongly associated with larger absolute values of effect size (adjusted β=1.02 (95 % CI 0.44 to 1.59), P=0.001). Impact factor increases by 0.008 (0.004 to 0.012) per unit increase in trial sample size (P<0.001), but does not differ by reported direction of the LBP trial outcome (P=0.270). CONCLUSIONS The absence of associations between effect size and impact factor, reporting sources of funding, and conflicts of interest reflects positively on research and publisher conduct in the field. Strong evidence of a large association between absolute magnitude of effect size and explicit reporting of 'no funding' suggests authors of unfunded trials are likely to report larger effect sizes, notwithstanding direction. This could relate in part to quality, resources, and/or how pragmatic a trial is.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Froud
- Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Norge Helsehøyskole,, Campus Kristiania, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Tom Bjørkli
- Norge Helsehøyskole,, Campus Kristiania, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Philip Bright
- European School of Osteopathy, The Street, ME14 3DZ Boxley, Maidstone, UK.
| | - Dévan Rajendran
- Norge Helsehøyskole,, Campus Kristiania, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.
- European School of Osteopathy, The Street, ME14 3DZ Boxley, Maidstone, UK.
| | - Rachelle Buchbinder
- Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Suite 41, Cabrini Medical Centre, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, 3144, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Martin Underwood
- Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - David Evans
- Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Norge Helsehøyskole,, Campus Kristiania, Prinsens Gate 7-9, 0152, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Sandra Eldridge
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London, E1 2AB Whitechapel, UK.
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