Biomedical subjects

L M Bouter

Publications and source records attributed to L M Bouter.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

On the accuracy of history, physical examination, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in diagnosing low back pain in general practice. A criteria-based review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: A criteria-based review of the literature was conducted regarding the accuracy of history, physical examination, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in diagnosing low back pain. OBJECTIVES: To perform meta-analysis of the literature regarding signs and symptoms in diagnosing radiculopathy, ankylosing spondylitis, and vertebral cancer. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Diagnosing low back pain, especially in general practice, depends largely on history taking, physical examination, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No previous review has assessed the diagnostic accuracy of signs and symptoms in a systematic way, taking into account the methodological quality of studies. METHODS: The literature was reviewed for relevant studies. Retrieved studies were independently rated for methodological quality by two reviewers. The reported sensitivity and specificity in the rated studies were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-six eligible studies were retrieved. Major methodological shortcomings were observed, and only 19 studies scored > or = 55 points (maximal score 100). Not one single test appeared to have high sensitivity and high specificity in radiculopathy. The combined history and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate had relatively high diagnostic accuracy in vertebral cancer. Getting out of bed at night and reduced lateral mobility seemed to be the only moderately accurate items in ankylosing spondylitis. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies that take into account the shortcomings identified would be needed to produce definite conclusions. Few of the studied signs and symptoms seemed to be valuable diagnostics for radiculopathy, ankylosing spondylitis, and vertebral cancer. Reproducibility of signs and symptoms over time might be a valuable diagnostic criterion. However, this was neglected in almost all studies.

Blood Sedimentation↗

PubMed1995

Methodological quality of randomized clinical trials on treatment efficacy in low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a review of criteria-based meta-analyses. OBJECTIVES: To assess the methodological quality of published randomized clinical trials on the efficacy of commonly used interventions in low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: During the last several decades, the number of published randomized clinical trials regarding low back pain has continued to grow. For some interventions, considerable numbers of trials are available. Trials have been shown to vary substantially regarding their quality. METHODS: A computer-aided search was conducted of published randomized clinical trials into the efficacy of spinal manipulation and mobilization, exercise therapy, back schools, bed rest, orthoses, and traction therapy. There was additional screening of journals not covered by Medline and Embase. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using a set of predefined criteria. RESULTS: Sixty-nine different randomized clinical trials were identified. Methodological scores varied between 16 and 82 points (maximum was 100 points). Methodological quality tended to be associated with the outcomes of the studies. Methodological shortcomings were frequently found--e.g., small sample sizes, no description of the randomization procedure, no description of drop-outs, no placebo-control group, and lack of blinded outcome assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Although a considerable number of randomized clinical trials have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of interventions in low back pain, their methodological quality appears to be disappointingly low. Future trials are clearly needed, but much more attention should be paid to the methods of such studies.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed1995

Barriers to wearing bicycle safety helmets in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To explore behavioral factors that determine whether children (aged 7 to 13 years) wear bicycle safety helmets. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Three Dutch primary schools in Breda, Maastricht, and Terneuzen, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-nine children aged 7 to 13 years. INTERVENTION: Wearing a bicycle safety helmet for 6 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Information about experiences with the bicycle safety helmet was gathered via questionnaires. Wearing a bicycle safety helmet was described as inconvenient, time-consuming, and uncomfortable. Children also perceived negative reactions from their social environment. CONCLUSIONS: Planned health promotion activities will be essential for the introduction of bicycle safety helmets to be successful. These activities should focus particularly on developing a comfortable bicycle safety helmet, creating facilities to store bicycle safety helmets, and changing negative social norms regarding wearing a bicycle safety helmet.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Vitamin D status and sex hormone binding globulin: determinants of bone turnover and bone mineral density in elderly women.

To examine the relation of the vitamin D status and the remaining estrogen activity with bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women, BMD was measured at both hips using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and at the distal radius using single photon absorptiometry, in 330 healthy women aged 70 and over. Vitamin D metabolites, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH(1-84), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and hydroxyproline and calcium excretion in 2 h fasting urine were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. In 65% of the women, serum 25(OH)D was below 30 nmol/l. Only values below a threshold for 25(OH)D were negatively related to serum PTH(1-84) (p = 0.02, threshold at 25 nmol/l) and to osteocalcin levels (p = 0.04, threshold at 30 nmol/l). BMD of the femoral neck and trochanter was positively related to serum 25(OH)D (left neck p = 0.001) with thresholds at 30 nmol/l whereas the distal radius was not (p = 0.32). Serum PTH was negatively related to BMD at all measurement sites (all p < 0.001). Serum SHBG, an inverse measure of estrogen activity, was positively related to osteocalcin levels (p = 0.004) and the urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio (p = 0.002) and negatively related to the BMD of the trochanter (left trochanter p = 0.02) and the distal radius (p = 0.001). We conclude that in elderly women, serum 25(OH)D levels below 30 nmol/l are associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased bone turnover. SHBG is positively related to bone turnover.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1995

Peripheral arterial disease in relation to glycaemic level in an elderly Caucasian population: the Hoorn study.

We investigated the cross-sectional association between peripheral arterial disease and glycaemic level in an age, sex, and glucose tolerance stratified random sample from a 50-74-year-old Caucasian population. Subjects treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin were classified as having known diabetes mellitus (KDM) (n = 67). Using two oral glucose tolerance tests, and based on World Health Organisation criteria, all other participants were categorized as having a normal (NGT) (n = 288), an impaired (IGT) (n = 170), or a diabetic (NDM) (n = 106) glucose tolerance. Prevalence rates of ankle-brachial pressure index less than 0.90 were 7.0%, 9.5%, 15.1% and 20.9% in NGT, IGT, NDM and KDM subjects, respectively (chi-square test for linear trend: p < 0.01). Prevalence rates of any peripheral arterial disease (ankle-brachial pressure index < 0.90, at least one monophasic or absent Doppler flow curve or vascular surgery) were 18.1%, 22.4%, 29.2% and 41.8% in these categories (chi-square test for linear trend: p < 0.0001). The prevalence of any peripheral arterial disease was higher in KDM and NDM than in NGT (p < 0.03, p < 0.0001, respectively), whereas no statistically significant difference was demonstrated between IGT and NGT. The same applied when using the ankle-brachial pressure index criterion. Logistic regression analyses showed that any arterial disease was significantly associated with HbA1c, fasting and 2-h post-load plasma glucose after correction for cardiovascular risk factors (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals 1.35; 1.10-1.65 per %, 1.20; 1.06-1.36 and 1.06; 1.01-1.12 per mmol/l, respectively), whereas it was not associated with fasting and 2-h post-load specific insulin. Ankle-brachial pressure indices were not associated with either plasma glucose parameters or insulin in univariate or multivariate analyses. In conclusion, parameters of glucose tolerance are independently associated with any peripheral arterial disease, whereas insulin is not.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Inter- and intra-rater agreement of the Rehabilitation Activities Profile.

The objective of the study was to determine the inter- and intra-rater agreement of the Rehabilitation Activities Profile (RAP). The RAP is an assessment method that covers the domains of communication, mobility, personal care, occupation and relationships. Each domain consists of items which are further divided in sub-items for in-depth analysis. The RAP allows quantification of the severity of disabilities, handicaps and perceived problems of a patient with regard to the items and sub-items. For this purpose ordinal 4-point Likert scales were constructed. The RAP can be used for goal setting and evaluation of rehabilitation. Because of the broad intended use of the RAP and its construction, a special design for the reliability study was needed. The study was carried out in 5 rehabilitation facilities with the participation of various professions. The items and sub-items of the RAP were divided over these professions according to their expertise. Pairs of interviewers were formed that questioned a patient. For the determination of inter- and intra-rater agreement each pair of interviewers was allowed to question a patient only once. To establish the intra-rater agreement, video recordings were made during the interviews. The median (weighted) kappa value and percentage of agreement about the severity grading of a disability or handicap for all items and sub-items exceeded 0.84 and 81%, respectively, with regard to the inter- and intra-rater agreement. For the severity grading of perceived problems these values were 0.91 and 86%. The interpretation of kappa was hindered by two paradoxes recently described in the literature. The paradox "high agreement but low kappa" manifested itself in particular. It is concluded that inter- and intra-rater agreement of the RAP can be considered to be good to very good.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1995

The efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for shoulder complaints. A systematic review.

The medical literature was evaluated with respect to the efficacy of NSAIDs for shoulder complaints. Nineteen randomized clinical trials met the selection criteria and were included in this review. Each publication was independently scored by two blinded reviewers, according to a standardized set of 17 methodological criteria. The studies were ranked according to their total methods score (maximum 100 points). The methodological quality of the majority of the studies was rather disappointing; only 5 trials received a methods score exceeding 50 points. Furthermore, methodological criteria were often inadequately described, particularly those regarding the randomization procedure, co-interventions and control of compliance. The three trials with the highest methods scores demonstrated superior short-term efficacy of NSAIDs in comparison with placebo intervention. Fourteen trials comparing two types of NSAIDs showed no conclusive evidence in favour of a particular NSAID with respect to efficacy or tolerability. Future studies should compare the benefit-risk ratios of NSAIDs and analgesics for shoulder complaints in order to establish whether the use of NSAIDs is more favourable than analgesics, despite the higher risk of adverse reactions from NSAIDs.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in epidemiologic research among the elderly: validation by comparison with dietary history.

A self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire including 75 food items and providing information on the habitual intake of 31 nutritional parameters, based on the intake of protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber and 11 vitamins and minerals, was developed for use in epidemiologic research on chronic disease among the elderly, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. By means of detailed frequency and quantity questions, specifications of types of food, preparation methods and seasonal variation, the questionnaire was expected to be an improvement on existing instruments. The relative validity of the questionnaire was examined in 74 men and women, aged 50-75, by comparison with a modified dietary history. Systematic differences were absent or negligible for all nutrients, except vitamin C. Bias depending on the level of intake could be ruled out for all but seven nutrients. Pearson correlation coefficients for estimates from the questionnaire and dietary history were on average 0.71 (range: 0.65-0.78) and 0.66 (range: 0.36-0.81) for macronutrients, and vitamins and minerals, respectively. Classifying individual intake estimates into tertiles of the distribution for both methods, on average 62.4 and 54.7% of the intakes were categorized into the same tertile and 3.9 and 5.9% into the opposite tertile for macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, respectively. These results demonstrate an acceptable relative validity for this newly developed questionnaire, as compared to the dietary history method.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

The Rehabilitation Activities Profile: a validation study of its use as a disability index with stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the criterion, content, and construct validity of the Rehabilitation Activities Profile (RAP) in patients with stroke. This instrument is constructed for screening, monitoring, and prognosis purposes to assist clinical rehabilitation. It consists of 21 activities, covering the domains communication, mobility, personal care, occupation, and relationships. Disabilities and perceived problems are assessed in parallel on two four-point severity scales. The disability sum scores of the first four RAP domains were used in the analyses presented in this article. DESIGN: An inception cohort of stroke patients was studied during 26 weeks. Patients that were still hospitalized on the 14th day after stroke were included. The functional assessments took place 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks after stroke. SETTING: The patients were visited at the hospital, at home, nursing home, or rehabilitation center. PATIENTS: 125 patients were included in the study. After 26 weeks, 105 patients were still alive; 18 patients had died, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The RAP, Barthel Index (BI) and Frenchay Activities Index (FAI). RESULTS: The domain "mobility+personal care" correlated highly with the BI score (r: 0.87 to 0.90). The domain "occupation" correlated with the FAI score before the stroke and 26 weeks after stroke (r: 0.72, 0.73, respectively). The disability sum score of the domain "mobility+personal care" allowed a prediction of the living arrangement 26 weeks after stroke (receiver operator characteristic area surface: 0.90). The same domain showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the 8-week disability sum score for most living arrangements. Exceptions were rehabilitation center versus intermediate care in a nursing home (p = 0.23) and acute care hospital versus chronic care in a nursing home (p = 0.45). Hypotheses on subgroup differences in mean scores in the domains "communication" and "mobility+personal care" could be confirmed (the discerned subgroups were: gender, having a partner, motor deficit of upper or lower extremity, urinary incontinence, higher cortical deficits, conjugate deviation of the eye, coma, hemianopsia). CONCLUSION: The disability sum scores of the RAP can be used as discriminative, evaluative, and predictive indexes.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

The efficacy of traction for back and neck pain: a systematic, blinded review of randomized clinical trial methods.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic analysis of the literature to assess the efficacy of traction for patients with neck or back pain. SUBJECTS: For this purpose, randomized clinical trials comparing traction with other treatments were selected. METHODS: A computer-aided search of the literature was conducted for relevant articles, followed by blinded assessment of the methods of the studies. The main outcome measures were (1) scoring for quality of the designated conduct of studies (based on a methodological checklist with four main categories: study population, interventions, measurement of effect, and data presentation) and the main conclusions of author(s) with regard to traction and (2) calculation of confidence intervals and power of the studies. RESULTS: Only three studies scored more than 50 points (maximum score = 100 points), suggesting that most of the selected studies were of poor quality. None of these three studies showed favorable results for traction. Only four studies, of which one scored more than 50 points, had an acceptable power (1- beta > 80%). CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The available reports of studies on the efficacy of traction for back and neck pain do not allow clear conclusions due to the methodological flaws in their design and conduct. Most studies lacked power (1-beta) due to small sample sizes. To date, no conclusions can be drawn about whether a specific traction modality for back or neck pain is effective, or more efficacious than other treatments. There are no clear indications, however, that traction is an ineffective therapy for back and neck pain. Further trials are needed in which much more attention should be paid to proper design and conduct, as well as to clear descriptions of crucial methodological features and results.

Back Pain↗

PubMed1995

Shoulder disorders in general practice: incidence, patient characteristics, and management.

OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence and management of intrinsic shoulder disorders in Dutch general practice, and to evaluate which patient characteristics are associated with specific diagnostic categories. METHODS: In 11 general practices (35,150 registered patients) all consultations concerning shoulder complaints were registered during a period of one year. Patients with an intrinsic shoulder disorder who had not consulted their general practitioner for the complaint during the preceding year (incident cases) were asked to participate in an observational study. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding the nature and severity of their complaints. The general practitioners recorded data on diagnosis and therapy. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of shoulder complaints in general practice was estimated to be 11.2/1000 patients/year (95% confidence limits 10.1 to 12.3). Rotator cuff tendinitis was the most frequently recorded disorder (29%). There were 349 incident cases enrolled in the observational study. Patient characteristics showed small variations between different diagnostic categories. Age, duration of symptoms, precipitating cause and restriction of movement seemed to be discriminating factors. Twenty two percent of all participants received injections during the first consultation; most (85%) were diagnosed as having bursitis. The majority of patients with tendinitis (53%) were referred for physiotherapy. CONCLUSION: With respect to diagnosis and treatment, the practitioners generally appeared to follow the guidelines issued by the Dutch College of General Practitioners. Although the patient characteristics of specific disorders showed some similarities with the clinical pictures described in the literature, further research is required to demonstrate whether the proposed syndromes indeed constitute separate disorders with a different underlying pathology, requiring different treatment strategies.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Prevention of bone loss by vitamin D supplementation in elderly women: a randomized double-blind trial.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone turnover and bone loss in elderly women. Three hundred forty-eight women, ages 70 yr and older, were randomized to receive 400 IU vitamin D3 per day (n = 177) or placebo (n = 171), double-blind, for a period of 2 yr. Main outcome measures were bone mineral density of both hips (femoral neck and trochanter) and the distal radius, as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover. The effect of vitamin D supplementation was expressed as the difference in mean (percentage) change between the placebo group and the vitamin D group. The measurements were repeated in 283 women after 1 yr and in 248 women after 2 yr. Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (250HD) (+35 nmol/L) and 1,25-dehydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] (+7.0 pmol/L) levels and urinary calcium/creatinine ratios (+0.5%) and significantly decreased PTH(1-84) secretion (-0.74 pmol/L) after 1 yr. No effect was found for the parameters of bone turnover. The effect on the bone mineral density of the left femoral neck was +1.8% in the first yr, +0.2% in the second yr, and +1.9% during the whole period (95% confidence interval 0.4, 3.4%). At the right femoral neck the effects were +1.5%, +1.1%, and +2.6% (confidence interval 1.1, 4.0%), respectively. No effect was found at the femoral trochanter and the distal radius. Supplementation with 400 IU vitamin D3 daily in elderly women slightly decreases PTH secretion and increases bone mineral density at the femoral neck.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Prevalence and determinants of glucose intolerance in a Dutch caucasian population. The Hoorn Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and determinants of glucose intolerance in a general Caucasian population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A random sample of 50- to 74-year old Caucasians (n = 2,484) underwent oral glucose tolerance tests. Multiple regression analyses were performed to study the association of 2-h postload plasma glucose values with potential determinants. RESULTS: Prevalence of known and newly detected diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance was 3.6, 4.8, and 10.3%, respectively. In women, but not in men, the association of body mass index with 2-h glucose was fully accounted for by the waist-to-hip ratio. Maternal history of diabetes was twice as prevalent as paternal history, but paternal history only was associated with 2-h glucose. In addition, paternal history was a stronger determinant in men than in women. An independent positive association with 2-h plasma glucose was found for alcohol use of > 30 g/day in women and for intake of total protein, animal protein, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in men. An independent inverse association with 2-h plasma glucose was demonstrated for height (both sexes), alcohol use of < or = 30 g/day (both sexes), energy intake (in men), and, unexpectedly, current smoking (in men). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes in elderly Caucasians was 8.3%. In men, dietary habits may unfavorably influence glucose tolerance independent of obesity.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Comparison of three methods for the quantification of beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

The purpose of this study was to compare two techniques for the quantification of beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Sixteen subjects (2 with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 8 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 6 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT)), aged 40-65 years underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA) and a hyperglycaemic clamp (10 mmol/l) in random order. As measures of beta-cell function we used the clamp derived area under the curve from 0-10 min (first phase insulin response) and the mean insulin level during the last 20 min of the clamp (second phase insulin response). Insulin sensitivity was reflected by the ratio of the glucose infusion rate and the mean insulin level during the last 20 min of the clamp (M/I ratio). Measures for beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity derived from OGTT and CIGMA appeared to correlate only moderately (0.5-0.7) with the corresponding clamp measures. It is concluded that OGTT and CIGMA derived measures of beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity should be interpreted with caution.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Sensory thresholds in older adults: reproducibility and reference values.

To evaluate the test-retest reproducibility of vibratory perception (VPT) and thermal discrimination (TDT) thresholds on the foot in older adults, we examined 20 50-76-year-old subjects with, and 19 without non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Adjusted reference values for both thresholds were obtained by assessing the relations with age, body height, and sex among 216 subjects with normal glucose tolerance, of the same age, sampled randomly from a geographically defined general population. The VPT appeared to be more reproducible than the TDT (reliability coefficient 0.89 vs. 0.54). The reproducibility of the VPT was inversely related to age and better for men than for women. Diabetes and glycemic level did not affect the reproducibility of either threshold. Both thresholds were related to age and height. Women had a higher VPT than men. The relations between sex and sensory thresholds at the lower limb, reported in previous studies, were probably confounded by height.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

The incidence of hip fractures in independent and institutionalized elderly people.

The incidence density of hip fractures in the population of Amsterdam, aged 70 years and over, was studied according to the type of residence. In 1989, 655 patients were admitted to nine hospitals within Amsterdam for a hip fracture. Postal codes were used to classify the residence of the population and the hip fracture cases as independent, home for the elderly or nursing home. Stepwise logistic regression was used for data analysis. The risk of hip fracture increased with age and was 1.7 times higher for women than for men. In the age group 70-74 years the relative risk (RR) was 7.6 for those in homes for the elderly and 5.8 for those in nursing homes, when compared with the independent elderly. This RR was approximately 1 for those in homes for the elderly aged 85 years and over. However, in nursing homes the RR was still 2.8 in the age group 95+. We concluded that, despite protective measures against falls, the institutionalized elderly are at greater risk of hip fracture than the independent elderly of the same age and sex. This higher risk is especially apparent in the 'younger' age groups.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Complaints of neuropathy related to the clinical and neurophysiological assessment of nerve function in patients with diabetes mellitus.

To determine the value of a detailed evaluation of neuropathic sensory complaints in assessing diabetic polyneuropathy, a questionnaire listing different sensory symptoms was compared with a clinical and neurophysiological examination of the peripheral nerves. Thirty-seven insulin dependent and thirty-one non-insulin dependent diabetic patients who were consecutively referred because of suspected polyneuropathy were investigated. In all patients both clinical and neurophysiological examination confirmed the diagnosis of polyneuropathy. Only the scores of the clinical examination were significantly correlated with the scores of the sensory symptoms (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). Using a factor analysis, a dimension of complaints of sensory alteration could be distinguished from a dimension of complaints of neuropathic pain (alpha coefficients 0.88 and 0.86, respectively). Tingling sensations turned out to be an expression of the dimension of complaints of sensory alteration. The scores of clinical and neurophysiological examinations were only significantly correlated with the dimension of sensory alteration (r = 0.38, P < 0.002; r = 0.37, P < 0.02, respectively). We conclude that only symptoms of numbness and tingling sensations in hand and feet are associated with objectively assessed diabetic polyneuropathy.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗

PubMed1994

The efficacy of back schools: a review of randomized clinical trials.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of back school programmes for low-back pain. Data sources comprised computer-aided search of published randomized clinical trials and assessment of the methods of the studies. 21 papers reporting on 16 randomized clinical trials evaluating a back school programme were selected for the study. Data extraction included a score for quality of the methods, based on four categories: study population, interventions, effect measurement and data presentation and analysis; and the conclusion of the author(s) with regard to the efficacy of the back school programme. Only two studies scored more than 50 points (maximum = 100 points) indicating the overall poor quality of the methods. Seven studies indicated that the back school programme was more effective than the reference treatment and seven reported it to be no better or worse than the reference treatment. In two studies the authors refrained from drawing a conclusion. The studies reporting positive results showed higher methods scores (4/7 positive vs 0/7 negative scored > or = 45 points). Reported benefits of back schools were usually of short duration only. There are major flaws in the design of most studies. The best studies indicated that back schools may be effective in occupational settings in acute, recurrent or chronic conditions. The most promising type of interventions were (modifications of) the "Swedish back school" and were quite intensive (a 3 to 5-week stay in a specialized centre). Future research efforts should focus on the identification of patients who would benefit most from back schools. In addition, more attention should be paid to the cost-effectiveness of back schools.

Humans↗