Musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents: an analysis plan for a cohort study and for a systematic review of measurement properties

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents is a common condition. In low- and middle-income countries there are only a few prognosis studies. There is no summarisation of disability instruments and questionnaires for children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. Objective: 1) to develop an analysis plan for a prognosis cohort study with children and adolescents with disabling musculoskeletal pain; 2) to critically appraise and summarize the evidence on the measurement properties of the instruments and questionnaires measuring disability in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. Methods: We will conduct an analysis plan (objective 1) based on the PROGnosis RESearch Strategy (PROGRESS) framework to conduct two types of prognosis studies. The analysis plan will be developed and a script for the R software will be plane. We will conduct a systematic review according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) of questionnaires and instruments that measure disability in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. Expected results: We expect to have an adequate analysis plan in accordance with the PROGRESS framework. We also expect to summarise all evidence available about the measurement properties of disability instruments and questionnaires for children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. Further researchers and clinicians will choose easily a well-developed and with good measurement properties instrument or questionnaire.