Developing a core outcome set for sciatica: a scoping review of outcome measures.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Research
• Pain Management
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Standardization of outcome measures is crucial for synthesizing sciatica research.
• Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are vital in assessing sciatica interventions.
• Current sciatica research exhibits heterogeneity in outcome measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize PROMs used in randomized controlled trials for sciatica.
• To provide a foundation for developing a consensus-based core outcome set for sciatica research.
• To analyze patterns in PROM usage, collection time points, and intervention types.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted.
• Systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases (1999-2024).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials involving sciatica patients using at least one PROM, with independent screening and data extraction.

Main Results:

• 187 studies utilized 69 distinct PROMs, with Visual Analogue Scale for pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and Numeric Pain Rating Scale being most frequent.
• PROMs primarily addressed pathophysiological and life impact domains, with limited focus on economic impact.
• Significant variation in follow-up periods and PROM administration methods was observed across studies.

Conclusions:

• Substantial heterogeneity in outcome measurement exists in sciatica trials, underscoring the need for standardization.
• The frequent use of non-sciatica-specific measures may indicate gaps in capturing condition-specific outcomes.
• Developing a standardized core outcome set is essential for improving the quality and comparability of sciatica research.