Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires for people with pain in any spine region. A systematic review

•Three questionnaires evaluate disability of people with any-region spine pain.•Most studies evaluating the questionnaires are of fair methodological quality.•Spine Functional Index (SFI) is yet to be independently evaluated.•Functional Rating Index (FRI) is recommended for use in multi-area spinal pain.

Background/objectiveThis systematic review investigates the measurement properties of Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires which evaluate disability associated with pain in any area of the spine.MethodPRO questionnaires for people with pain in any spinal region were identified from existing systematic reviews and recent studies. Databases were searched for studies which evaluated the measurement properties of the included questionnaires to August 2015. Data synthesis used a levels of evidence approach which considered study methodological quality.ResultsThe Extended Aberdeen Back Pain Scale (EA), Functional Rating Index (FRI) and Spine Functional Index (SFI) were identified as eligible for this review. The FRI was evaluated in 15 studies, with positive results for internal consistency, structural validity, hypothesis testing and responsiveness, negative results for measurement error and conflicting results for reliability. The SFI was evaluated in 3 studies with positive results for internal consistency, reliability, content validity, and structural validity. Conflicting results were found for hypothesis testing. The EA was evaluated in 3 studies which found negative results for internal consistency and structural validity.ConclusionsThe FRI is provisionally recommended for the assessment of disability in people with multi-area spinal pain. This conclusion is based on studies of mainly fair methodological quality.