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Table 4 Clinical outcome measures at 6-month follow-up by intervention arm

From: Stratified primary care versus non-stratified care for musculoskeletal pain: findings from the STarT MSK feasibility and pilot cluster randomized controlled trial

Key characteristics

Intervention

6 m follow-up (n = 200)

Control

6 m follow-up (n = 258)

6-month pain intensity (self-reported), mean (SD)

3.93 (2.98) [n = 209]a

4.18 (2.88) [n = 268]a

Change in pain intensity (0–10, higher score is worse), from GP consultation to 6-month Questionnaire, mean (SD)

−2.6 (3.1) [n = 207]

−1.9 (3.1) [n = 266]

Pain interference with performance at work (0–10, the higher score the worse), mean (SD)

3.14 (2.74) [n = 87]

3.86 (3.13) [n = 115]

Days of moderate physical activity per week, median (IQR)

3 (1–4) [n = 199]

3 (1–4) [n = 257]

Currently employed (Yes), n (%)

78 (40.2%)

101 (39.9%)

Time-off-work last 6 m due to MSK pain (Yes), n (%)

15 (17.4%)

29 (25.4%)

Overall global change (−5–5, the higher score the better), mean (SD)

1.20 (2.72) [n = 199]

1.15 (2.62) [n = 257]

Risk status using a development version of the Keele STarT MSK Tool, mean (SD) (note: not the final version)

3.40 (2.70) [n = 190]

3.64 (2.35) [n = 234]

 Low risk (0–3 score), n (%)

113 (59.5%)

127 (54.3%)

 Medium risk (4–7 score), n (%)

60 (31.6%)

93 (39.7%)

 High risk (8–9 score), n (%)

17 (9.0%)

14 (6.0%)

Overall musculoskeletal health status (MSK-HQ, 0–56, the higher score the better), mean (SD)

37.5 (12.8) [n = 193]

37.3 (11.8) [n = 248]

Fear-avoidance (using 11-item TSK, higher score the worse) mean (SD)

22.81 (7.25) [n = 197]

23.70 (7.24) [n = 253]

Satisfaction with GP care for MSK pain

 Very satisfied, n (%)

48 (24.2%)

58 (22.8%)

 Quite satisfied, n (%)

71 (35.9%)

89 (34.9%)

 No opinion, n (%)

46 (23.2%)

60 (23.5%)

 Not very satisfied, n (%)

25 (12.6%)

44 (17.3%)

 Not at all satisfied, n (%)

8 (4.0%)

4 (1.6%)

Knee physical function using KOOS (the higher score the better), mean (SD)

51.7 (24.5) [n = 55]

53.6 (22.9) [n = 72]

Neck physical function using NDI (the higher score the worse), mean (SD)

7.80 (5.83) [n = 27]

11.89 (11.57) [n = 24]

Back physical function using RMDQ (the higher score the worse), mean (SD)

6.90 (6.52) [n = 61]

6.44 (5.80) [n = 75]

Shoulder physical function using SPADI-Function (the higher score the worse), mean (SD)

30.2 (29.6) [n = 44]

33.4 (27.8) [n = 62]

Multi-site physical function using SF12 PCS the higher score the better), mean (SD)

37.3 (15.1) [n = 12]

34.7 (10.7) [n = 23]

Last 6 months saw a professional for MSK pain [n = 421]

126 (67.0%)

175 (75.1%)

Last 6 months received any MSK investigation/treatment [n = 412]

66 (36.7%)

66 (28.5%)

Last 6 months had MSK hospital overnight stay [n = 446]

5 (2.6%)

6 (2.4%)

Quality of life using EQ5D-5 L, mean (SD)

0.65 (0.26) [n = 208]a

0.63 (0.25) [n = 258]a

  1. a Additionally includes minimal data collection (MDC) responses hence the denominator numbers (n) are greater than the total column numbers of 200 (intervention) and 258 (control) which reflect total questionnaire returns