Methods

A retrospective cohort study among all patients who underwent a mono-level ACD with PMMA for degenerative cervical disease, between 2007–2012, was performed. Patients filled out an online questionnaire, developed to assess clinical long-term outcome, complications and re-operation rates. The primary outcome measure was the Neck Disability Index (NDI), secondary outcome measures were re-operation and complication rates.

Methods

A clinical database of the Groningen Spine Center containing patient-reported data from 1546 patients with LBP was used. From this dataset, a training dataset with 354 features was labeled on eight different treatments actually received by these patients. With this dataset, models were trained. A test dataset with 50 cases judged on treatments by 4 experts in LBP triage was used to test these models with data not used to train the models. Prediction accuracy and average area under curve (AUC) were used as performance measures for the models.

Methods

Patients with degenerative cervical spine disease were included and divided into two groups, based on their most predominant symptom: myelopathy or radiculopathy. Reliability was assessed with inter-rater and test-retest design using a quadratic weighted Kappa coefficient. Construct validity was assessed by means of hypothesis testing with related constructs. To evaluate if the Odom's criteria could act as a global perceived effect (GPE) scale, we assessed concurrent validity by comparing the areas under the curves (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) with both the Odom's criteria, as the GPE as an anchor.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational study. CS, lifting and aerobic capacities, and pain response were respectively measured with Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), floor-to-waist lifting test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), and Pain response questionnaire.

Statistical analyses:

Stepwise-forward multiple regression with lifting and aerobic capacities (dependent), CSI (independent), physical, work- and disability-related characteristics (covariates);

Aim

To investigate the patient reported clinical results of the treatments of the GSC during seven years of its existence.

Methods and results

An observational multi-centre study was conducted in primary physiotherapy care with measurements at baseline and at 12 weeks including known prognostic factors and psychological candidate predictors for CLBP. Two hundred and four participants completed both assessments of which 51 and 54 were classified as having less than 50% decrease in pain and pain-related disability, respectively. For pain, the final model contained higher pain intensity, longer pain duration, depression symptoms, and state anxiety with explained variance 0.30, sensitivity 0.74, specificity 0.82, Likelihood Ratio 4.1 (95% CI 2.0 to 6.1) and Area Under the Curve 0.78 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.85). For pain-related disability, trait anxiety, depression symptoms, and state anxiety contributed independently to the prediction with the model's explained variance of 0.19, sensitivity 0.78, specificity 0.78, Likelihood Ratio 3.0 (95% CI 2.0 to 4.5), and Area Under the Curve 0.73 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.81).

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were held with patients, professionals, and managers. Using topic lists, interviewees were questioned about barriers to and facilitators of the usefulness and feasibility of C-VR and LC-VR. All interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by systematic text condensation using thematic analysis.

Patients and methods

A cost study in a natural prospective cohort was carried out to investigate healthcare data of patients admitted to the Groningen Spine Center (GSC) ranging from two years prior to referral until two year after discharge. GSC intervention consisted of a multi-professional and -specialist based diagnosis and treatment. Patients (18 and 80 years) were included, suffering from specific as well as multifactorial spinal pain. Clinical data was merged with Health Care Insurance data and included questionnaires on demographics, work, pain, disability, quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Univariable (paired sample t-tests) and multivariable analyses (pooled OLS Regression and fixed effects models) were carried out.

Objective

To study the personal and societal impact of CLBP in patients visiting the UMCG tertiary spine center.

Patients and methods

A cross sectional vignette study among four PAs was carried out. Vignettes (cases) were constructed including 26 factors that can be self-reported, identified in literature that have predictive value in treatment outcomes (for example red flags indicating serious underlying conditions and yellow flags indicating psychosocial factors). All vignettes were randomly assigned to the PAs who should determine what intervention would be most optimal to the patient (rehabilitation, injections, medications, surgery, primary care psychology, primary care physical therapy). PAs were allowed to advise more than one intervention. Per vignette, 3 PAs were assigned randomly to advise on intervention. Fleish kappas were calculated to determine the interrater reliability.

Method

In both studies, worker and significant other perceptions of pain self-efficacy, perceived partner responses to pain, pain catastrophizing, and contribution to work participation were explored in relation to the worker's CMP. In the Netherlands, questionnaire data were collected from workers with CMP and their significant others (n=103), and in the UK, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted (n=10). Appropriate quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques were applied.