Measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures used in rehabilitation of adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A mapping review

BACKGROUND: Choosing measurement tools for diagnostic, prognostic, or evaluative purposes in a chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) population is challenging for rehabilitation practice. Implementation of measurement tools for clinical practice is impaired by gaps in knowledge about measurement properties. OBJECTIVE: Identifying evidence about the measurement properties of tools frequently used in Dutch pain rehabilitation practice. METHODS: A mapping review was conducted of eligible studies that investigated reliability, validity, or responsiveness, and interpretability, as defined by the COSMIN taxonomy, of original versions or Dutch translations of predefined Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in a CMP population. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched in March 2021. Results were visually mapped. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were included. The results show many knowledge gaps in both original and translated versions. In general, aspects of validity were most frequently reported. The Pain Disability Index, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey were the most studied measurement tools. No results were found for the Checklist Individual Strength, Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Utrecht Coping List. CONCLUSION: Little evidence of the measurement properties of PROMs used in rehabilitation of patients with CMP in the Netherlands was found. PROMs need to be used and interpreted with caution in daily practice.