Diagnostic accuracy: sensitivity and specificity of the ScreenAssist Lumbar Questionnaire in comparison with primary care provider tests and measures of low back pain: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the ScreenAssist Lumbar Questionnaire (SALQ) to determine the presence of non-musculoskeletal pain or emergent musculoskeletal pain, in terms of its sensitivity and specificity, when compared with the assessment and diagnosis made by primary care providers. METHODS: Subjects were patients presenting to a primary care physician's office with the main complaint of low back pain. SALQ data were collected within 24 hours of the appointment. A 2-month post-visit chart review was performed in order to compare scores and recommendations made by the questionnaire with the assessment and diagnosis made by the physician. RESULTS: The SALQ demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI = 0.445-1.0) and specificity of 92% (95% CI = 0.831-0.920). The negative likelihood ratio was 0.11 (95% CI = 0.01-1.54) and the positive likelihood ratio was 9.36 (95% CI = 2.78-32). If the SALQ was positive, the post-test probability was 0.60. If the SALQ was negative, the post-test probability was 0.017. DISCUSSION: Results from this study suggest that the SALQ can be used as an adjunct to the subjective history taking in a physical therapy evaluation to assist in the recognition of non-musculoskeletal or emergent musculoskeletal conditions requiring referral.