Knowledge syntheses related to musculoskeletal (MSK) health and care epidemiology

We conduct systematic knowledge syntheses, including scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, to identify and map currently existing evidence to explore research topics from a broad perspective and to identify research gaps related to patient centered MSK health and care epidemiology.

Minimal clinical data sets for spine related MSK disorders in primary care and outpatient settings – a scoping review: Lack of standardised clinical data collection may lead to reduced quality in MSK-related clinical care and research. Little is known about the availability and characteristics of minimal clinical data sets for spine related MSK disorders in primary care and outpatient settings and their utility for improving healthcare quality. Our objective is to undertake a scoping review aiming to identify and map current literature on minimal clinical data sets for measuring and monitoring health status in patients with spine related MSK disorders in primary and outpatient healthcare settings.
Publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37952699/

Incidence and determinants of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with radiculopathy in adults – a systematic review: LDH is the most common cause of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Compared to nonspecific low back pain, LDH with radiculopathy is associated with greater disability, healthcare use and intervention. Yet, little is known about its epidemiology. Our objective is to synthesize the best available evidence on the incidence and determinants of LDH with radiculopathy in adults.

Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) related to MSK primary healthcare – a scoping review: MSK disorders contribute to a high burden of disability worldwide and are the most prevalent disease area which would benefit from rehabilitation. Considering the increased demand for evidence-based care for MSK disorders, end user involvement in research, and primary care quality assurance that may be facilitated through PBRNs, we propose a scoping review to map the current evidence on PBRNs in the field of MSK healthcare. Specific objectives include: (1) to describe the features of PBRNs involved in MSK disorders research; (2) to examine how MSK disorders have been studied within the context of PBRNs; and (3) to assess PBRN research good practices of the identified MSK-related PBRNs.