ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2019
Matching treatment options for risk sub-groups in musculoskeletal pain: a consensus groups study.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evidence-based treatment recommendations for neck and low back pain across Europe: A systematic review of guidelines.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2021Pooled it
- Development and feasibility of stratified primary care physiotherapy integrated with eHealth in patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints: results of a mixed methods study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Trial
- Risk-based stratified primary care for common musculoskeletal pain presentations: qualitative findings from the STarT MSK cluster randomised controlled trial.BMC primary care · 2022Trial
- Stratified primary care versus non-stratified care for musculoskeletal pain: findings from the STarT MSK feasibility and pilot cluster randomized controlled trial.BMC family practice · 2020Trial
- Pain Phenotypes in Endometriosis: A Population-Based Study Using Latent Class Analysis.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2025Article
- Recognition at the Heart of the Complex Situations Experienced by People With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
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- Developing tailored intervention strategies for implementation of stratified care to low back pain with physiotherapists in Nigeria: a Delphi study.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Risk-based stratified primary care for common musculoskeletal pain presentations (STarT MSK): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.The Lancet. Rheumatology · 2022Article
- Validation of the German version of the STarT-MSK-Tool: A cohort study with patients from physiotherapy clinics.PloS one · 2022Article
- Integrating clinician support with intervention design as part of a programme testing stratified care for musculoskeletal pain in general practice.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- Recovery trajectories in common musculoskeletal complaints by diagnosis contra prognostic phenotypes.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Observational
- Validity and reliability of the Dutch STarT MSK tool in patients with musculoskeletal pain in primary care physiotherapy.PloS one · 2021Observational
- What General and Pain-associated Psychological Distress Phenotypes Exist Among Patients with Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis?Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2020Article
- Computer-Based Stratified Primary Care for Musculoskeletal Consultations Compared With Usual Care: Study Protocol for the STarT MSK Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2020Article
- Stratified primary care versus non-stratified care for musculoskeletal pain: qualitative findings from the STarT MSK feasibility and pilot cluster randomized controlled trial.BMC family practice · 2020Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMusculoskeletal (MSK) pain represents a considerable worldwide healthcare burden. This study aimed to gain consensus from practitioners who work with MSK pain patients, on the most appropriate primary care treatment options for subgroups of patients based on prognostic risk of persistent disabling pain. Agreement was sought on treatment options for the five most common MSK pain presentations: back, neck, knee, shoulder and multisite pain, across three risk subgroups: low, medium and high.
methodsThree consensus group meetings were conducted with multi-disciplinary groups of practitioners (n = 20) using Nominal Group Technique, a systematic approach to building consensus using structured in-person meetings of stakeholders which follows a distinct set of stages.
resultsFor all five pain presentations, "education and advice" and "simple oral and topical pain medications" were agreed to be appropriate for all subgroups. For patients at low risk, across all five pain presentations "review by primary care practitioner if not improving after 6 weeks" also reached consensus. Treatment options for those at medium risk differed slightly across pain-presentations, but all included: "consider referral to physiotherapy" and "consider referral to MSK-interface-clinic". Treatment options for patients at high risk also varied by pain presentation. Some of the same options were included as for patients at medium risk, and additional options included: "opioids"; "consider referral to expert patient programme" (across all pain presentations); and "consider referral for surgical opinion" (back, knee, neck, shoulder). "Consider referral to rheumatology" was agreed for patients at medium and high risk who have multisite pain.
conclusionIn addressing the current lack of robust evidence on the effectiveness of different treatment options for MSK pain, this study generated consensus from practitioners on the most appropriate primary care treatment options for MSK patients stratified according to prognostic risk. These findings can help inform future clinical decision-making and also influenced the matched treatment options in a trial of stratified primary care for MSK pain patients.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.