Development of a Consensus about Important Outcomes in Physiotherapy for Neck Pain - A Delphi Study

Background Neck pain is a frequent reason to seek physiotherapy treatment. Evaluating the results of the treatment is often not routine practice. A core outcome set (COS) for physiotherapists is currently lacking. Objective To develop a consensus on important outcome domains that should be used by physiotherapists to measure the outcomes of patients with nonspecific neck pain. Method Initially a systematic research was carried out to identify outcome domains. Subsequently in a Delphi survey physiotherapists and patients rated the importance of outcome domains using a 9-point rating scale in round 1 and then re-rated outcomes in round 2 and 3 after reviewing other respondents' suggestions. For each outcome measure, central tendency and measures of dispersion were calculated. Results 62 physiotherapists and nine patients participated in the first round of the Delphi survey. Further Delphi rounds with the patients were stopped due to the low number of participants. Patients considered "range of motion of the cervical spine in different directions of movement" and "health-related quality of life" as important outcomes. 50 (81%) and 37 (74%) physiotherapists completed the second and third round of the Delphi survey. The outcome domains that met the inclusion criteria for the consensus were "problems with everyday activities due to the neck pain" and "ability to self-management/self-responsible handling with the neck pain". Conclusion A first consensus was reached on important outcome domains from the physiotherapist's point of view. For the development of a COS future research is required e.g. to confirm the outcome domains and to include the patient's point of view.