Multidimensional screening for predicting pain problems in adults: a systematic review of screening tools and validation studies

Abstract

Screening tools allowing to predict poor pain outcomes are widely used. Often these screening tools contain psychosocial risk factors. This review (1) identifies multidimensional screening tools that include psychosocial risk factors for the development or maintenance of pain, pain-related distress, and pain-related disability across pain problems in adults, (2) evaluates the quality of the validation studies using Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST), and (3) synthesizes methodological concerns. We identified 32 articles, across 42 study samples, validating 7 screening tools. All tools were developed in the context of musculoskeletal pain, most often back pain, and aimed to predict the maintenance of pain or pain-related disability, not pain-related distress. Although more recent studies design, conduct, analyze, and report according to best practices in prognosis research, risk of bias was most often moderate. Common methodological concerns were identified, related to participant selection (eg, mixed populations), predictors (eg, predictors were administered differently to predictors in the development study), outcomes (eg, overlap between predictors and outcomes), sample size and participant flow (eg, unknown or inappropriate handling of missing data), and analysis (eg, wide variety of performance measures). Recommendations for future research are provided.

Importance of Work-Related Psychosocial Factors in Exertion Perception Using the Borg Scale Among Workers Subjected to Heavy Physical Work

“…Further, the evidence that even the time of the shift when the workers were interviewed had no influence on the obtained results could be interpreted specifically considering the psychosocial factors; more in detail, these subjects gave positive feedback about night shifts, receiving full-time pay for reduced hours (6 h), which enable them to perform further activities during the day (e.g., study, family, second job, etc.). These findings are in agreement with studies highlighting how psychosocial factors can play a decisive role in the perception of disorders and in the assessment of the risk of biomechanical overload of the upper limbs ( 7 , 19 – 24 ). On the other hand, psychosocial discomfort can lead to incorrect working practices, which can amplify the effects of risk factors specific to the role, despite not necessarily being significant in themselves ( 12 , 25 ).…”

Dealing with Chronic Pain: Tips to Teach Undergraduate Health Sciences Students

“…The interpretation of their scores can help plan an early intervention and propose the incorporation of other members of a multidisciplinary team for pain management. 19 …”

“…As mentioned, the knowledge and identification of the yellow flags as predictors of long-term disability are considered essential for early intervention for vulnerable people. 19 Set Individualised and Consensual Goals: SMART Rule Can Help! relevant.…”

Investigation of the effect of technology and internet addictions on the musculoskeletal system in university students during the post-pandemic period

“…This 12-item self-report questionnaire evaluates all MSK problems, including the spine, upper and lower extremities, and accordingly aims to predict the severity, dysfunction, status of receiving a report, cost and recovery time of the problem (19). Each item takes a value between 0 and 10 according to the response given.…”