Strategies for outcome research in spinal disorders. An introduction.
The evaluation of the clinical utility of the clinical diagnostic tests and procedures, what works in spinal disorders, and for whom and how treatment affects a patient's symptoms and function are key questions of outcomes research. This paper describes the advantages and limitations of the main study approaches used. Examples from the spine literature on spinal stenosis are used for illustration.
Liang
M H
MH
Robert B. Brigham Multipurpose Arthritis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Andersson
G
G
Bombardier
C
C
Cherkin
D C
DC
Deyo
R A
RA
Keller
R B
RB
Lee
C K
CK
Lipscomb
B
B
Shekelle
P
P
Spratt
K F
KF
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy