Open AccessReport of the NIH Task Force on Research Standards for Chronic Low Back Pain
Author(s) -
Deyo Richard A.,
Dworkin Samuel F.,
Amtmann Dagmar,
Andersson Gunnar,
Borenstein David,
Carragee Eugene,
Carrino John,
Chou Roger,
Cook Karon,
DeLitto Anthony,
Goertz Christine,
Khalsa Partap,
Loeser John,
Mackey Sean,
Panagis James,
Rainville James,
Tosteson Tor,
Turk Dennis,
Korff Michael Von,
Weiner Debra K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/pme.12538
Subject(s) - medicine , task force , low back pain , physical therapy , chronic pain , physical medicine and rehabilitation , etiology , intervention (counseling) , task (project management) , alternative medicine , psychiatry , pathology , management , public administration , political science , economics
Objective Despite rapidly increasing intervention, functional disability due to chronic low back pain ( cLBP ) has increased in recent decades. We often cannot identify mechanisms to explain the major negative impact cLBP has on patients' lives. Such cLBP is often termed non‐specific, and may be due to multiple biologic and behavioral etiologies. Researchers use varied inclusion criteria, definitions, baseline assessments, and outcome measures, which impede comparisons and consensus. Design Expert panel and preliminary evaluation of key recommendations. Methods The NIH Pain Consortium charged a Research Task Force ( RTF ) to draft standards for research on cLBP . The resulting multidisciplinary panel developed a 3‐stage process, each with a 2‐day meeting. Results The panel recommended using 2 questions to define cLBP ; classifying cLBP by its impact (defined by pain intensity, pain interference, and physical function); use of a minimal data set to describe research subjects (drawing heavily on the PROMIS methodology); reporting “responder analyses” in addition to mean outcome scores; and suggestions for future research and dissemination. The Pain Consortium has approved the recommendations, which investigators should incorporate into NIH grant proposals. Conclusion The RTF believes these recommendations will advance the field, help to resolve controversies, and facilitate future research addressing the genomic, neurologic, and other mechanistic substrates of chronic low back pain. Greater consistency in reporting should facilitate comparisons among studies and the development of phenotypes. We expect the RTF recommendations will become a dynamic document, and undergo continual improvement. Perspective A task force was convened by the NIH Pain Consortium with the goal of developing research standards for chronic low back pain. The results included recommendations for definitions, a minimum dataset, reporting outcomes, and future research. Greater consistency in reporting should facilitate comparisons among studies and the development of phenotypes.