Quality of Life Research

, Volume 23, Issue 9, pp 2495–2504 | Cite as

Exploring the outcomes in studies of primary frozen shoulder: is there a need for a core outcome set?

  • Sara Rodgers
  • Stephen Brealey
  • Laura Jefferson
  • Catriona McDaid
  • Emma Maund
  • Nigel Hanchard
  • Lorna Goodchild
  • Sally Spencer
Article
First Online:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

In our study we explored the need to define a core outcome set for primary frozen shoulder.

Methods

We investigated the outcomes used by studies included in a systematic review of the management of primary frozen shoulder; surveyed which primary outcome measures health care professionals considered important; and re-examined papers previously obtained for a systematic review of patients’ views of interventions for frozen shoulder to investigate their views on outcomes.

Results

Thirty-one studies investigated the outcomes range of movement (28 studies), pain (22), function and disability (22), adverse events (13), quality of life (7) and other outcomes (5). Many different types of pain and ranges of movement were measured. Function and disability was measured using fifteen instruments, the content of which varied considerably. Function and disability, pain and range of movement (132, 108 and 104 respondents, respectively) were most often cited by health care professionals as the primary outcome measure that should be used. Searches identified one paper that included patients’ views. Outcomes of importance to patients were pain at night, general pain, reduced mobility (resulting in modification of activities) and the emotional impact of frozen shoulder.

Conclusions

We identified a diverse range of outcomes that have been used or are considered to be important. The development of a core outcome set would improve the design and reporting of studies and availability of data for evidence synthesis. Methods used to develop a core outcome set should be robust, transparent and reflect the views of all stakeholders.

Keywords

Core outcome set Frozen shoulder Systematic review Survey 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Amar Rangan for his support in the development of this paper. Part of this paper was derived from work undertaken for a project funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (project number 09/13/02). This NIHR project is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol 16: No 11. Further information available at: http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/volume-16/issue-11. Part of this paper presents independent research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, the NIHR, MRC, CCF, NETSCC, the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme or the Department of Health.

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Copyright information

© Crown Copyright 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sara Rodgers
    • 1
  • Stephen Brealey
    • 1
  • Laura Jefferson
    • 1
  • Catriona McDaid
    • 1
  • Emma Maund
    • 2
  • Nigel Hanchard
    • 3
  • Lorna Goodchild
    • 4
  • Sally Spencer
    • 5
  1. 1.York Trials Unit, Alcuin Research Resource CentreUniversity of YorkYorkUK
  2. 2.The Nordic Cochrane CentreCopenhagen ØDenmark
  3. 3.Health and Social Care Institute, School of Health and Social CareTeesside UniversityMiddlesbrough, Tees ValleyUK
  4. 4.Department of RehabilitationJames Cook University HospitalMiddlesbroughUK
  5. 5.Lancashire and Cumbria Clinical Research Hub, Faculty of Health and MedicineLancaster UniversityLancasterUK

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