Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice

Objectives: Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a prevalent, disabling, multi-dimensional condition with significant morbidity; however there appears to be a variable approach in the use of outcome measures in NeP trials. A search of systematic reviews of interventional randomized controlled trials for NeP wa...

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Main Authors: Meeta, Poonam, Claydon, Leica, Hendrick, Paul, Winser, Stanley, Baxter, G. David
Format: Article
Published: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2015
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40598/
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author Meeta, Poonam
Claydon, Leica
Hendrick, Paul
Winser, Stanley
Baxter, G. David
author_facet Meeta, Poonam
Claydon, Leica
Hendrick, Paul
Winser, Stanley
Baxter, G. David
author_sort Meeta, Poonam
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives: Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a prevalent, disabling, multi-dimensional condition with significant morbidity; however there appears to be a variable approach in the use of outcome measures in NeP trials. A search of systematic reviews of interventional randomized controlled trials for NeP was undertaken to investigate the range and types of outcome measures employed to determine treatment effects. Methods: Keywords and MESH searches were conducted in five electronic databases from inception to 31st January 2012. Full text English language reviews based on various acute and chronic NeP conditions were included. Two independent reviewers screened papers for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the quality of reviews. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to critically appraise the reviews. Results: A total of 46 studies were identified: the majority of reviews (n=28/46, 61%) scored well on the PRISMA (PRISMA scores of 20-27/27). Change in levels or intensity of pain were used by the majority of studies as the primary outcome measure in intervention studies (n=40/46 studies, 87%). Few studies employed a functional outcome measure (FOM) as either a primary or secondary outcome measure (n=7/46, 15% of studies). Discussion: These results demonstrate that measures of pain are predominantly used in trials of NeP conditions and highlight the scant usage of FOMs. The lack of standardization for the diagnostic criteria in NeP trials is also an issue which needs to be considered for future research and guideline development.
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spelling nottingham-405982020-05-04T17:02:40Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40598/ Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice Meeta, Poonam Claydon, Leica Hendrick, Paul Winser, Stanley Baxter, G. David Objectives: Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a prevalent, disabling, multi-dimensional condition with significant morbidity; however there appears to be a variable approach in the use of outcome measures in NeP trials. A search of systematic reviews of interventional randomized controlled trials for NeP was undertaken to investigate the range and types of outcome measures employed to determine treatment effects. Methods: Keywords and MESH searches were conducted in five electronic databases from inception to 31st January 2012. Full text English language reviews based on various acute and chronic NeP conditions were included. Two independent reviewers screened papers for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the quality of reviews. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to critically appraise the reviews. Results: A total of 46 studies were identified: the majority of reviews (n=28/46, 61%) scored well on the PRISMA (PRISMA scores of 20-27/27). Change in levels or intensity of pain were used by the majority of studies as the primary outcome measure in intervention studies (n=40/46 studies, 87%). Few studies employed a functional outcome measure (FOM) as either a primary or secondary outcome measure (n=7/46, 15% of studies). Discussion: These results demonstrate that measures of pain are predominantly used in trials of NeP conditions and highlight the scant usage of FOMs. The lack of standardization for the diagnostic criteria in NeP trials is also an issue which needs to be considered for future research and guideline development. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2015-02-14 Article PeerReviewed Meeta, Poonam, Claydon, Leica, Hendrick, Paul, Winser, Stanley and Baxter, G. David (2015) Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice. Clinical Journal of Pain, 31 (2). pp. 169-176. ISSN 1536-5409 neuropathic pain systematic review pain physical function outcome measures http://journals.lww.com/clinicalpain/Abstract/2015/02000/Outcome_Measures_in_Randomized_controlled_Trials.11.aspx doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000088 doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000088
spellingShingle neuropathic pain
systematic review
pain
physical function
outcome measures
Meeta, Poonam
Claydon, Leica
Hendrick, Paul
Winser, Stanley
Baxter, G. David
Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title_full Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title_fullStr Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title_full_unstemmed Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title_short Outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
title_sort outcome measures in randomized controlled trials of neuropathic pain conditions: a systematic review of systematic reviews and recommendations for practice
topic neuropathic pain
systematic review
pain
physical function
outcome measures
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40598/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40598/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40598/