Comparison of the Accuracy of WhipPredict to That of a Modified Version of the Short-Form Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire to Predict Poor Recovery After Whiplash Injury

Abstract

Objective To compare the accuracy of the whiplash specific risk-screening tool (WhipPredict) with a modified generic short-form Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (SF-ÖMPSQ-M) for predicting poor recovery. Design Inception cohort study. Methods 202 participants with acute whiplash completed WhipPredict and SF-ÖMPSQ-M at baseline. Poor recovery was measured at 6 and 12 months: Neck Disability Index (> 10%), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (>3/10), global perceived recovery (< +4) and return to pre-injury work (RTW). Accuracy statistics for predicting poor recovery were calculated. A STARD Checklist was completed. Results 71% (143) of participants completed the 6 month and 56% (113) the 12 month assessment. At baseline, agreement between WhipPredict and SF-ÖMPSQ-M was fair (Prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted kappa= 0.26; 95% 0.12 – 0.39). Depending on the outcome, 20-72% of people had not recovered at 6 months and 12-71% at 12 months. At 6 and 12 months, WhipPredict showed high sensitivity (88-94%) and low specificity (all J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 19 Feb 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9987