title: Estimated risk for chronic pain determined using the generic STarT Back 5-item screening tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The generic STarT Back 5-item screening tool (STarT-G) is used to manage chronic pain in the lower back and elsewhere. This study evaluated the validity of the Japanese version of this generic screening tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Japanese participants between the ages of 20 and 64 years completed online surveys regarding pain. Survey reliability was assessed with internal consistency, as calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate concurrent validity between the STarT-G score and standard reference questionnaires. Associations between STarT-G scores and the presence of a disability due to chronic pain (DCP) were analyzed using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses ultimately included data obtained from 52,842 Japanese participants (54.4% male) with a mean (standard deviation) age of 47.7 (9.4) years. Approximately 1.5% of participants had DCP, and the mean STarT-G score was 1.2 (1.4). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.71, indicating an acceptable reliability. The STarT-G score moderately correlated with the pain numerical rating scale (NRS) score (Spearman's correlation coefficient:r= 0.34). When the STarT-G threshold was set at 4, the sensitivity and specificity of the DCP predictive model were 65.8% and 82.4%, respectively, and the area under the ROC was 0.808.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STarT-G was internally consistent and was able to distinguish between subjects with and without a DCP. Therefore, the STarT-G can reliably be used in the Japanese population to identify patients with DCP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, Faculty of Medicine, 22nd Century Medical & Research Center, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, Faculty of Medicine, 22nd Century Medical & Research Center, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, Faculty of Medicine, 22nd Century Medical & Research Center, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc; Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi.
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc; Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetics & Orthotics and Assistive Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katsuhira
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba.
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, Faculty of Medicine, 22nd Century Medical & Research Center, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawamata
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanto Rosai Hospital, Kanagawa.
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonosu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
keywords: chronic pain; disability; primary care; psychological factors; screening tool; somatic symptoms