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The DEMMI was found to be clinically feasible, reliable, and valid for measuring mobility in an ICU population. Therefore, the DEMMI should be considered a preferred instrument for measuring mobility in patients during and after their ICU stay.

Aim To systematically review the available literature on the diagnostic accuracy of questionnaires and measurement instruments for headaches associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Design Articles were eligible for inclusion when the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity/specificity) was established for measurement instruments for headaches associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in an adult population. The databases searched were PubMed (1966–2018), Cochrane (1898–2018) and Cinahl (1988–2018). Methodological quality was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool (QUADAS-2) and COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist for criterion validity. When possible, a meta-analysis was performed. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) recommendations were applied to establish the level of evidence per measurement instrument. Results From 3450 articles identified, 31 articles were included in this review. Eleven measurement instruments for migraine were identified, of which the ID-Migraine is recommended with a moderate level of evidence and a pooled sensitivity of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85–0.89) and specificity of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.72–0.78). Six measurement instruments examined both migraine and tension-type headache and only the Headache Screening Questionnaire – Dutch version has a moderate level of evidence with a sensitivity of 0.69 (95% CI 0.55–0.80) and specificity of 0.90 (95% CI 0.77–0.96) for migraine, and a sensitivity of 0.36 (95% CI 0.21–0.54) and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.74–0.92) for tension-type headache. For cervicogenic headache, only the cervical flexion rotation test was identified and had a very low level of evidence with a pooled sensitivity of 0.83 (95% CI 0.72–0.94) and specificity of 0.82 (95% CI 0.73–0.91). Discussion The current review is the first to establish an overview of the diagnostic accuracy of measurement instruments for headaches associated with musculoskeletal factors. However, as most measurement instruments were validated in one study, pooling was not always possible. Risk of bias was a serious problem for most studies, decreasing the level of evidence. More research is needed to enhance the level of evidence for existing measurement instruments for multiple headaches.

Objective:The objectives of the present study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of an educational course on competence (knowledge and clinical reasoning) of primary care physical therapists (PTs) in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and comorbidity according to the developed strategy; and (2) identify facilitators and barriers for usage.Method: The present research was an observational study with a pretest-posttest design using mixed methods. PTs were offered a postgraduate course consisting of elearning and two workshops (blended education) on the application of a strategy for exercise prescription in patients with KOA and comorbidity. Competences were measured by questionnaire on knowledge (administered before and 2 weeks after the course), and a patient vignette to measure clinical reasoning (administered before the course and after a 6 month period of treating patients). Facilitators and barriers for using the strategy were assessed by a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews.Results: Thirty-four PTs were included. Competence (knowledge and clinical reasoning) improved significantly (p < 0.01). Fourteen out of 34 PTs had actually treated patients with KOA and comorbidity, during a 6-month period. The strategy was found to be feasible in daily practice. The main barriers included the limited number of (self-) referrals of patients, limited number of reimbursed treatment sessions by insurance companies and a suboptimal collaboration with (referring) physicians. Conclusion:A blended course on exercise therapy for patients with KOA and comorbidity seems to improve PTs' competence through increasing knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. Identified barriers should be solved before large-scale implementation of exercise therapy can take place in these complex patients. K E Y W O R D Sblended education, comorbidity, exercise therapy, knee osteoarthritis, primary care

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being used extensively in the search for pathoanatomical factors contributing to low back pain (LBP) such as Modic changes (MC). However, it remains unclear whether clinical findings can identify patients with MC. The purpose of this explorative study was to assess the predictive value of six clinical tests and three questionnaires commonly used with patients with low-back pain (LBP) on the presence of Modic changes (MC). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from Dutch military personnel in the period between April 2013 and July 2016. Questionnaires included the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The clinical examination included (i) range of motion, (ii) presence of pain during flexion and extension, (iii) Prone Instability Test, and (iv) straight leg raise. Backward stepwise regression was used to estimate predictive value for the presence of MC and the type of MC. The exploration of clinical tests was performed by univariable logistic regression models. Results Two hundred eighty-six patients were allocated for the study, and 112 cases with medical records and MRI scans were available; 60 cases with MC and 52 without MC. Age was significantly higher in the MC group. The univariate regression analysis showed a significantly increased odds ratio for pain during flexion movement (2.57 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–6.08]) in the group with MC. Multivariable logistic regression of all clinical symptoms and signs showed no significant association for any of the variables. The diagnostic value of the clinical tests expressed by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values showed, for all the combinations, a low area under the curve (AUC) score, ranging from 0.41 to 0.53. Single-test sensitivity was the highest for pain in flexion: 60% (95% CI: 48.3–70.4). Conclusion No model to predict the presence of MC, based on clinical tests, could be demonstrated. It is therefore not likely that LBP patients with MC are very different from other LBP patients and that they form a specific subgroup. However, the study only explored a limited number of clinical findings and it is possible that larger samples allowing for more variables would conclude differently.

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ObjectivesTo systematically review the literature regarding the reliability and validity of assessment methods available in primary care for bladder outlet obstruction or benign prostatic obstruction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).DesignSystematic review with best evidence synthesis.SettingPrimary care.ParticipantsMen with LUTS due to bladder outlet obstruction or benign prostatic obstruction.Review methodsPubMed, Ebsco/CINAHL and Embase databases were searched for studies on the validity and reliability of assessment methods for bladder outlet obstruction and benign prostatic obstruction in primary care. Methodological quality was assessed with the COSMIN checklist. Studies with poor methodology were excluded from the best evidence synthesis.ResultsOf the 5644 studies identified, 61 were scored with the COSMIN checklist, 37 studies were included in the best evidence synthesis, 18 evaluated bladder outlet obstruction and 17 benign prostatic obstruction, 2 evaluated both. Overall, reliability was poorly evaluated. Transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound showed moderate to good validity to evaluate bladder outlet obstruction. Measured prostate volume with these ultrasound methods, to identify benign prostatic obstruction, showed moderate to good accuracy, supported by a moderate to high level of evidence. Uroflowmetry for bladder outlet obstruction showed poor to moderate diagnostic accuracy, depending on used cut-off values. Questionnaires were supported by high-quality evidence, although correlations and diagnostic accuracy were poor to moderate compared with criterion tests. Other methods were supported by low level evidence.ConclusionClinicians in primary care can incorporate transabdominal and transrectal ultrasound or uroflowmetry in the evaluation of men with LUTS but should not solely rely on these methods as the diagnostic accuracy is insufficient and reliability remains insufficiently researched. Low-to-moderate levels of evidence for most assessment methods were due to methodological shortcomings and inconsistency in the studies. This highlights the need for better study designs in this domain.

Background:A structured, tailored exercise therapy strategy was found to significantly improve physical functioning, reduce pain and was safe for patients with knee OA and severe comorbidity. The intervention was performed in a specialized, secondary care center. Before the intervention can be implemented in primary care, appropriate education of physiotherapists (PTs) as well as insight into barriers and facilitators for using the protocol in primary care is needed.Objectives:This study aimed to 1) evaluate the effect of an interactive course on the exercise therapy strategy for patients with OA and comorbidity for PTs working in primary care; and 2) map facilitators and barriers for applying the protocol in primary care.Methods:A pre-posttest study was performed among PT’s who were working in primary care. PTs were offered a postgraduate blended educational course consisting of an e-learning lecture (7 hours study load) and two interactive workshops (each 3 hours study load). Measures of effectiveness included a questionnaire on knowledge (60 multiple choice questions) before (T0) and two weeks after the course (T1) and a patient vignette to measure clinical reasoning (nine open questions) before the course (T0) and six months after the course (T2). Facilitators and barriers for using the protocol were measured at T2 by means of a 27 item questionnaire (each item was scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 totally agree to 4 totally disagree).Results:Thirty-four PTs were included. Fourteen out of 34 PTs had treated at least one patient with knee OA and comorbidity according the protocol. Statistically significant improvements were found, both for knowledge levels between baseline and T1 (N=34)(p<0.00), and for clinical reasoning between baseline and T2 (N=34) (p<0.00). With regard to facilitators to implement the protocol, the majority of PTs found the protocol feasible in daily practice (68%) and to be supportive regarding clinical reasoning and clinical decision making (77%). Perceived barriers for implementation included the small number of patients with OA and severe comorbidity being referred or referring themselves. Of the therapist who actually treated patients according to the protocol, 86% indicated that the protocol was applicable in their daily clinical practice and that they perceived to have sufficient knowledge (71%) and skills (64%) to apply the protocol. Other barriers indicated by PTs were the limited number of treatment reimbursement by the insurance companies (65%) and a suboptimal collaboration with general practitioners and physicians (65%).Conclusions:An interactive educational course on exercise therapy for knee OA patients with comorbidity proved to be effective in improving knowledge and clinical reasoning skills of primary care PTs. Main barriers for protocol use included limited referrals of patients with knee OA and severe comorbidity to PTs, and limited number of treatment reimbursement by insurance companies. For larger scale implementation these barriers should be solved.D...