Adherence to the TRIPOD statement of clinical prediction models for spinal pain or osteoarthritis: a protocol for a meta-research study

Abstract

Background: Studies that develop and/or validate a clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) prediction model should be reported with sufficient details to enable the clinician to use the model in clinical practice. Also, an adequate reporting enables researchers to externally validate the model and assess its validity and reliability. To improve the reporting of multivariable prediction models, the TRIPOD checklist was released in 2015. Objective: Evaluate the quality of reporting of prediction model studies conducted in patients with back pain, neck pain or osteoarthritis. Methods: We will perform a systematic review of the literature, searching MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, and CINHAL (via EBSCO) for studies that describe a model development, external validation, update, or a combination of these in patients with back pain, neck pain or osteoarthritis. The completeness of the reporting will be evaluated using a specific adherence assessment form of the TRIPOD. Two authors will independently perform the study selection and data extraction processes. A descriptive analysis of the total score and the individual items of the TRIPOD will be produced. Ethics and dissemination: Upon the completion of the study, a manuscript with the results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.