Methods for the best evidence synthesis on neck pain and its associated disorders: the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders.
METHODS
Best evidence synthesis.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a detailed description of the methods undertaken in a systematic search and perform a best evidence synthesis on the frequency, determinants, assessment, interventions, course and prognosis of neck pain, and its associated disorders.


BACKGROUND
Neck pain is an important cause of health burden; however, the published information is vast, and stakeholders would benefit from a summary of the best evidence.


METHODS
The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders conducted a systematic search and critical review of the literature published between 1980 and 2006 to assemble the best evidence on neck pain. Citations were screened for relevance to the Neck Pain Task Force mandate, using a priori criteria, and relevant studies were critically reviewed for their internal scientific validity. Findings from studies meeting criteria for scientific validity were synthesized into a best evidence synthesis.


RESULTS
We found 31,878 citations, of which 1203 were relevant to the mandate of the Neck Pain Task Force. After critical review, 552 studies (46%) were judged scientifically admissible and were compiled into the best evidence synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders undertook a best evidence synthesis to establish a baseline of the current best evidence on the epidemiology, assessment and classification of neck pain, as well as interventions and prognosis for this symptom. This article reports the methods used and the outcomes from the review. We found that 46% of the research literature was of acceptable scientific quality to inform clinical practice, policy-making, and future research.
Carroll
Linda J
LJ
Department of Public Health Sciences, and Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada. lcarroll@ualberta.ca
Cassidy
J David
JD
Peloso
Paul M
PM
Giles-Smith
Lori
L
Cheng
C Sam
CS
Greenhalgh
Stephen W
SW
Haldeman
Scott
S
van der Velde
Gabrielle
G
Hurwitz
Eric L
EL
Côté
Pierre
P
Nordin
Margareta
M
Hogg-Johnson
Sheilah
S
Holm
Lena W
LW
Guzman
Jaime
J
Carragee
Eugene J
EJ