Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential subgroups amongst patients with non-specific low
back pain based on a consensus list of potentially discriminatory examination
items. DESIGN: Exploratory study. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 106
patients with non-specific low back pain (43 males, 63 females, mean age 36
years, standard deviation 15.9 years) and 7 physiotherapists. METHODS: Based on 3
focus groups and a two-round Delphi involving 23 health professionals and a
random stratified sample of 150 physiotherapists, respectively, a comprehensive
examination list comprising the most "discriminatory" items was compiled.
Following reliability analysis, the most reliable clinical items were assessed
with a sample of patients with non-specific low back pain. K-means cluster
analysis was conducted for 2-, 3- and 4-cluster options to explore for meaningful
homogenous subgroups. RESULTS: The most clinically meaningful cluster was a
two-subgroup option, comprising a small group (n = 24) with more severe clinical
presentation (i.e. more widespread pain, functional and sleeping problems, other
symptoms, increased investigations undertaken, more severe clinical signs, etc.)
and a larger less dysfunctional group (n = 80). CONCLUSION: A number of
potentially discriminatory clinical items were identified by health professionals
and sub-classified, based on a sample of patients with non-specific low back
pain, into two subgroups. However, further work is needed to validate this
classification process.

Langue : ANGLAIS