Core outcome sets for research and clinical practice.
Alessandro Chiarotto, Raymond W Ostelo, Dennis C Turk and 2 others
PMID 28460714WHAT IT FOUND
Core outcome sets standardize a minimum set of results to measure in trials and practice.
For low back pain and osteoarthritis, agreed domains include pain, physical function, and quality of life or patient global assessment. They aid comparison, not treatment proof.
Key findings
01A core outcome set is a minimum agreed set of outcomes to measure and report in trials for a condition, and it does not force which outcome is primary.
02For low back pain, a recent update reached consensus on physical functioning, pain intensity, and health-related quality of life as core outcome domains.
03For hip, knee, and hand osteoarthritis, core domains include pain, physical function, and patient global assessment; hand osteoarthritis also adds joint activity and hand strength.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a review of outcome measurement standards, not a study of treatment effects, so it does not show that any therapy works. It mostly covers musculoskeletal pain and osteoarthritis; core sets for stroke and other rehabilitation areas are described as rare or under development, so it gives little ready-made guidance for those patients. It does not list exact instruments or scoring details for every domain; readers are sent to original manuscripts. It admits there is no agreed standard method for developing a core outcome set, and no standard way to get clinicians to use one.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that a treatment is effective because it uses a core outcome set. It only standardizes which outcomes should be measured. Treatment benefit still needs trial results.