JBI QARI Data Extraction Tool Form for

Interpretive and Critical research

Reviewer: Ai-Ni O. Bautista
Author: Gary J Macfarlane
Journal: BMJ (Outcome of low back pain in general practice: a prospective study)
Date: January 29, 1998
Year: 1998
Record Number: N/A

Study Description
Methodology: Prospective study design (Cross-sectional study)
Method: Cross sectional survey was used at the start of the study to determine factors that might
predict the outcome of a subsequent episode of low back pain and they also used an interview
Intervention:
Setting: Two general practices in south Manchester.

Geographical: N/A
Cultural: N/A
Participants: 490 subjects (203 men, 287 women) aged 18-75 years.
Data Analysis: Evaluated the outcome of each new consulting episode by means of two approaches.
First, reviewed the patients' records for subsequent consultations up to six months after the index
consultation and classified patients into three groups. Second, they evaluated outcome from follow up
visits among the subgroup of survey responders.
Authors Conclusion: The results are consistent with the interpretation that 90% of patients with low
back pain in primary care will have stopped consulting with symptoms within three months. However
most will still be experiencing low back pain and related disability one year after consultation.

Comments:
Findings Illustration from
publication (page
number)
Evidence
Unequivocal Credible Unsupported
Annual cumulative
consultation rate
among adults in
the practices was
6.4%.
- Yes Yes No
Of the 463
patients who
consulted with a
new episode of
low back pain, 275
(59%) had only a
single
consultation, and
150 (32%) had
repeat
consultations
confined to the 3
months after
initial
consultation.
- Yes Yes No
People
interviewed at 3
and 12 months
follow up, only
39/188 (21%) and
42/170 (25%)
respectively had
completely
recovered in terms
of pain and
disability.
- Yes Yes No

Extraction of findings complete YES/NO

JBI QARI Data Extraction Tool Form for
Interpretive and Critical research
Reviewer: Ai-Ni O. Bautista
Author: Brian R. Waterman, MD, Philip J. Belmont Jr., MD, Andrew J. Schoenfeld, MD
Journal: Journal The Spine Journal (Low back pain in the United States: incidence and risk factors for
presentation in the emergency setting)
Date: January 2012
Year: 2012
Record Number: Volume 12, Issue 1 , Pages 63-70

Study Description
Methodology: Cross-sectional study
Method: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for all cases of low back pain
presenting to emergency departments between 2004 and 2008. Incidence rate ratios were then
calculated with respect to age, sex, and race. The chi-square statistic was used to identify statistically
significant differences in the incidence of low back pain requiring emergent medical evaluation between
subgroups.
Intervention:
Setting: United States of America
Geographical:
Cultural:
Participants: United States population estimates.
Data Analysis: Incidence rate ratios were calculated to determine the influence of age, sex, and race on
the development of low back pain requiring emergent medical evaluation.
Authors Conclusion: Age, sex, and race are significant risk factors for the development of low back pain
necessitating treatment in an emergency department.
Comments:
Findings Illustration from
publication (page
number)
Evidence
Unequivocal Credible Unsupported
An estimated 2.06
million episodes of
low back pain
63-70 No No Yes
occurred among a
population at risk
of over 1.48 billion
person-years for
an incidence rate
of 1.39 per 1,000
person-years in
the United States.
Low back pain
accounted for
3.15% of all
emergency visits.
63-70 No No Yes
Injuries sustained
at home (65%)
accounted for
most patients
presenting with
low back pain.
63-70 No No Yes
When compared
with females,
males showed no
significant
differences in the
rates of low back
pain.
63-70 Yes Yes No
Low back pain
demonstrates a
bimodal
distribution with
peaks between 25
and 29 years of
age (2.58/1,000
person-years) and
95 to 99 years of
age (1.47/1,000)
without
differentiation by
underlying
etiology.
63-70 No No Yes
When analyzed by
5-year age group,
males aged 10 to
49 years and
females aged 65
to 94 years had
increased risk of
low back pain than
63-70 No No Yes
their opposite sex
counterparts.
When compared
with Asian race,
patients of black
and white race
were found to
have significantly
higher rates of low
back pain.
63-70 No No Yes
Older patients
were found to be
at a greater risk of
hospital admission
for low back pain.
63-70 Yes Yes No

Extraction of findings complete YES/NO

JBI QARI Data Extraction Tool Form for
Interpretive and Critical research
Reviewer: Ai-Ni O. Bautista
Author: Dr. P. Dobkin, Dr. J. Hanley, Dr. S. Wood-Dauphinee, Dr. J. Klvanna, and A.
Journal: Risk American Journal of Epidemiology (Factors for the Development of Low Back Pain in
Adolescence)

Date: November 7, 2000
Year: 2000
Record Number: Vol. 154, No. 1, pages 30-36

Study Description
Methodology: Repeated-measures design (cohort study)
Method: A cohort of high school students in Montreal, Canada, was followed prospectively over a 12-
month period. Students in grades 79 were assessed from three schools two public inner-city schools
and one smaller private school. In accordance with the laws of the province of Qubec, all students and
the parents of those aged less than 14 years provided a signed, informed consent before entry into the
study. Data were collected three times over the year: at inception (t1, fall of 1995), 6 months (t2, spring
of 1996), and 12 months (t3, fall of 1996). Each time, students were asked to complete a questionnaire
that addressed lifestyle and musculoskeletal health. They also underwent a series of measurements of
their height, weight, abdominal muscle strength, and trunk and lower limb flexibility

Intervention:
Setting: Montreal, Canada
Geographical:
Cultural:
Participants: Students in grades 79
Data Analysis: Univariate comparisons were carried out on the two 6- month time periods separately. In
this way, seasonal influences of activity and work were separated.

Authors Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that low back pain is common in adolescents,
with a cumulative annual incidence of 17 percent. Factors associated with development of low back pain
in adolescents were a high growth spurt, poor quadriceps and hamstrings flexibility, working during the
school year, and smoking. Although prevention strategies have been addressed in the occupational
setting (59, 60), our results suggest that more research is needed regarding prevention before people
enter the workforce. Improved knowledge and awareness of the vulnerability of the back, the need for
good flexibility, and refraining from smoking are all areas that require further investigation.

Comments:
Findings Illustration from
publication (page
number)
Evidence
Unequivocal Credible Unsupported
The study found
an increased
incidence in the
first 6-month
interval (fall to
spring), which
corresponded to
most of the school
year, compared
with the second 6
30-36
Yes Yes No
months (spring to
fall).
Students who
underwent a high
growth spurt were
more likely to
develop low back
pain.
30-36
Yes Yes No
Study did not find
an association
between
development of
low back pain and
Schober lumbar
flexion or sit and
reach flexibility.
30-36
Yes Yes No
Poor isometric
muscle strength of
the abdominals
was not found to
be a risk factor for
development of
low back pain in
this study.
30-36
No No Yes
Physical activity
was not associated
with the
development of
low back pain in
this cohort of
adolescents.
30-36
No No Yes
Smokers were
more likely to
develop low back
pain in this cohort
of adolescents.
30-36
Yes Yes No
Analysis of
medication use
(for low back pain)
supports the
notion that those
students who
smoked or worked
tended to use
medication more.
30-36
No Yes No

Extraction of findings complete YES/NO