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Consensus for Statements Regarding a Definition for Spinal Osteoarthritis for Use in Research and Clinical Practice: A Delphi Study

Arthritis Care & Research, vol. 75, pp. 1095–1103

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine consensus among an international, multidisciplinary group of experts regarding definitions of spinal osteoarthritis for research and for clinical practice. METHODS: A 15-member, multidisciplinary steering committee generated 117 statements for a 3-round Delphi study. Experts in back pain and/or osteoarthritis were identified and invited to participate. In round 1, participants could propose additional statements for voting. All statements were rated on a 1-9 Likert scale, and consensus was set at ≥70% of respondents agreeing or disagreeing with the statement and <15% of respondents providing the opposite response. RESULTS: In total, 255 experts from 11 different professional backgrounds were invited. From 173 available experts, 116 consented to participate. In round 1, 103 participants completed the survey, followed by 85 of 111 participants in round 2 (77%) and 87 of 101 participants in round 3 (86%). One-third of participants were from Europe (30%), most were male (58%), one-fifth were physical therapists (21%), and over one-third had been in their profession for 11-20 years (35%). Of 131 statements, consensus was achieved for 71 statements (54%): 53 in agreement (75%) and 18 in disagreement (25%). CONCLUSION: Although there was consensus for statements for definitions of spinal osteoarthritis that were analogous to definitions of osteoarthritis in appendicular joints, a future definition still needs refinement. Importantly, this Delphi highlighted that a future definition should be considered across a spectrum of structural changes and patient symptoms and expressed on a progressive scale.

Authors 15

  1. Katie E. de Luca corresponding

    Macquarie University

    Affiliation as printed

    CQ University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia

    CQ University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  2. Erasmus MC

    Affiliation as printed

    Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands

    Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  3. Monash University

    Affiliation as printed

    Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia

    Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  4. University Medical Center Utrecht

    Affiliation as printed

    University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands

    University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

  5. Erasmus MC

    Affiliation as printed

    Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands

    Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  6. The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia

    Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  7. The University of Queensland · Metro North Hospital and Health Service · Keele University

    Affiliation as printed

    STARS Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and Primary Care Versus Arthritis Centre, School of Medicine, Keele University Staffordshire UK

    STARS Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and Primary Care Versus Arthritis Centre, School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK

  8. University of Southern Denmark

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and Chiropractic Knowledge Hub Odense Denmark

    University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, Odense, Denmark

  9. University of Alberta

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada

    Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

  10. The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Labs, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Institute of Bone and Joint Research St. Leonards New South Wales Australia

    Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Labs, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, St. Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

  11. Erasmus MC

    Affiliation as printed

    Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands

    Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  12. University of Washington · VA Puget Sound Health Care System · Seattle Epidemiologic Information and Research Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Clinical Learning, Evidence, and Research (CLEAR) Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC) and Rehabilitation Care Services and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Washington

    Clinical Learning, Evidence, and Research (CLEAR) Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC) and Rehabilitation Care Services and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington

  13. Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center · Spaarne Ziekenhuis · Spaarne Gasthuis

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden University Medical Centre and the Hague Medical Centre, Leiden‐Den Haag, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem/Hoofddorp The Netherlands

    Leiden University Medical Centre and the Hague Medical Centre, Leiden-Den Haag, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem/Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

  14. Erasmus MC

    Affiliation as printed

    Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands

    Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  15. The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia

    Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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References 40