Prognostic accuracy of clinicians for back, neck and shoulder patients in routine practice In this study chiropractors were found not to be able to accurately predict treatment outcomes of patients prior to treatment at 1 or 3 months follow up, for any of the conditions, chronicity of condition and regardless of the use of multiple measures to determine outcome. The results of this study imply that practitioners insight into a patients likely outcome is not sufficient alone as a prognostic tool. Given the controversy inherent in the prediction literature to define robust predictors of prognosis it maybe that barring generic factors such as duration it will remain up to the practitioner to do their best in how they articulate potential prognosis to the patient. Luckily given that most MSD patients tend to improve in the relatively short term erring on the side of optimism may be the best policy.
#science #chiropractor #chiropractic #research #education #evidence based #patient centered #interprofessional #collaborative #rehabilitation #public health #spinal health #musculoskeletal health #ethics #pain #function #disability #QOL #knowledgetranslation
