Is a universal outcome instrument for spinal trauma possible?
A new article in Spine examines patient-reported and clinician-based outcomes measures used to frequently evaluate the function and health of spinal trauma patients. The researchers conducted a systematic literature search in several databases to identify outcomes measures; there were 5,117 screened references and 245 included in the study.
The researchers found:
1. There were 17 different frequently used outcomes measures among those studied.
2. There were 105 different International Classification of Functioning, Disability and health categories linked to the meaningful concepts and response options for outcomes measures in the study. There were 57 first- or second-level categories.
3. The reported categories were linked to components activities and participation, body function, environmental factors and body structures.
4. The disease-specific questionnaires, including ODI and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, NDI and Cervical Spine Outcome Questionnaire, had the most evidence; otherwise there was only limited evidence on the measurement properties.
5. The researchers concluded, "The current systematic literature review revealed great diversity in the use and content of outcome measures to evaluate the functioning and health of spine trauma patients with 17 different outcomes measures linked to 57 unique ICF categories."