High-frequency follow-up studies in musculoskeletal disorders: a scoping review

Objectives. This scoping review identifies research in musculoskeletal disorders that uses high frequency follow-up of symptoms. The aim was to investigate whether symptom variability is investigated as a predictor of disease outcome and how intensive follow-up methods are used in musculoskeletal research. Methods. Embase, MEDLINE and PsycInfo were searched using OVID, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers was also searched using the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Xplore search engine. Studies were systematically reviewed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, but no meta-analysis was done because the priority in this study is to identify gaps in available literature. Results. Twenty-one papers were included. There was a mean of 54 patients per study (S.D. of 27.7). Two-thirds of the papers looked at how a symptom influences another in the short-term (subsequent assessment in the same day or next day), but none looked at the long-term. Only one study considered symptom variability investigating how higher variability in pain (defined by the S.D.) is associated with higher average pain severity and lower average sleep quality. Conclusion. The methodology of musculoskeletal disorder research has changed from completing paper booklets to using electronic data capture (smartphones). There has also been a trend of collecting more intensive longitudinal data, but very little research utilizes these data to look at how symptom variability affects symptom outcomes. This demonstrates a gap in research where furthering understanding of this will help clinicians decide on the most important symptom to address in future patients.

Automated summary

This scoping review focused on research in musculoskeletal disorders with high frequency follow-up of symptoms. The majority of studies examined short-term effects of symptoms on each other, but there is a lack of research on the long-term effects of symptom variability. Further research in this area is needed to help clinicians prioritize symptoms in patient care.