title: The Japanese version of the STarT Back Tool predicts 6-month clinical outcomes of low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The STarT Back Tool classifies patients into low-, medium-, or high-risk groups according to risk for chronic low back pain. The Japanese version of the STarT Back Tool (STarT-J) has been translated and psychometrically validated. The present analysis investigated the predictive ability of the STarT-J.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data were collected through an online survey conducted with Japanese patients with low back pain. Long-term outcomes were assessed in a 6-month follow-up survey. Clinical outcomes at 6 months were evaluated with a pain numerical rating scale, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the EuroQol 5 Dimension. Differences in these scores among the three STarT-J risk groups were analyzed. Participants' perceived changes in low back pain and overall health status were examined to determine associations between the chronicity of low back pain at 6 months and STarT-J risk groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 1228 volunteers who responded to the baseline and follow-up surveys were included in this analysis. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) scores for the pain numerical rating scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire were highest in the high-risk group (5.6 ± 1.9 and 9.6 ± 7.5) and lowest in the low-risk group (3.9 ± 1.6 and 2.1 ± 3.5). Mean ± SD EuroQol 5 Dimension index scores were lowest in the high-risk group (0.66 ± 0.20) and highest in the low-risk group (0.86 ± 0.14). A small percentage of high-risk patients (5.3%) perceived improvement in low back pain at the 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STarT-J predicted 6-month pain and disability outcomes. The STarT-J is an easy-to-use tool to screen for patients who are more likely to have chronic low back pain, and may be useful to initiate stratified care in primary care settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan. Electronic address: kohart801@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Daiei Bldg., 2F, 1-11-20 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-0003, Japan; Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Daiei Bldg., 2F, 1-11-20 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Daiei Bldg., 2F, 1-11-20 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-0003, Japan; Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors