The predictive ability of the STarT Back Tool was limited in people with chronic low back pain: a prospective cohort study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.02.009
• Publication Date: 2018-03-27T09:05:29Z
• Authors: Michelle Kendell; Darren Beales; Peter O’Sullivan; Martin Rabey; Jonathan Hill; Anne Smith
• Keywords: Back Pain

In people with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP), what is the predictive and discriminative validity of STarT Back Tool (SBT) for intensity, self-reported LBP-related disability, global self-perceived change at 1-year follow-up? What profile SBT risk subgroups respect to demographic variables, psychological measures?Prospective cohort study.A total 290 adults dominant axial LBP of≥3months' duration recruited from general community, private physiotherapy, psychology, pain-management clinics in Western Australia.The follow-up measures were change.Outcomes collected on 264 participants. The categorised 82 participants (28%) as risk, 116 (40%) medium 92 (32%) high risk. differed significantly (p<0.05) baseline pain, scores. SBT's ability was strongest disability: RR 2.30 (95% CI 1.28 4.10) medium-risk group 2.86 1.60 5.11) high-risk group. weaker pain: 1.25 1.04 1.51) 1.26 1.03 1.52) For score, AUC 0.71 0.64 0.77) disability 0.63 0.55 0.71) pain.This first large study investigate a population exclusively LBP. provided an acceptable indication had poor future unable predict or discriminate perceived change. this LBP, abilities restricted 1year. [Kendell M, Beales D, O'Sullivan P, Rabey Hill J, Smith A (2018) limited prospective study. Journal Physiotherapy 64: 107-113].