title: Clinical prediction rules in the physiotherapy management of low back pain: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify, appraise and determine the clinical readiness of diagnostic, prescriptive and prognostic Clinical Prediction Rules (CPRs) in the physiotherapy management of Low Back Pain (LBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from 1990 to January 2010 using sensitive search strategies for identifying CPR and LBP studies. Citation tracking and hand-searching of relevant journals were used as supplemental strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent reviewers used a two-phase selection procedure to identify studies that explicitly aimed to develop one or more CPRs involving the physiotherapy management of LBP. Diagnostic, prescriptive and prognostic studies investigating CPRs at any stage of their development, derivation, validation, or impact-analysis, were considered for inclusion using a priori criteria. 7453 unique records were screened with 23 studies composing the final included sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers independently extracted relevant data into evidence tables using a standardised instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identified studies were qualitatively synthesized. No attempt was made to statistically pool the results of individual studies. The 23 scientifically admissible studies described the development of 25 unique CPRs, including 15 diagnostic, 7 prescriptive and 3 prognostic rules. The majority (65%) of studies described the initial derivation of one or more CPRs. No studies investigating the impact phase of rule development were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current body of evidence does not enable confident direct clinical application of any of the identified CPRs. Further validation studies utilizing appropriate research designs and rigorous methodology are required to determine the performance and generalizability of the derived CPRs to other patient populations, clinicians and clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haskins
authors.forename: Darren A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rivett
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Osmotherly
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome