To develop a core outcome set for Achilles tendinopathy (COS-AT) for use in clinical trials we performed a five-step process including (1) a systematic review of available outcome measurement instruments, (2) an online survey on truth and feasibility of the available measurement instruments, (3) an assessment of the methodological quality of the selected outcome measurement instruments, (4) an online survey on the outcome measurement instruments as COS and (5) a consensus in-person meeting. Both surveys were completed by healthcare professionals and patients. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology guidelines with a 70% threshold for consensus were followed. We identified 233 different outcome measurement instruments from 307 included studies; 177 were mapped within the International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus core domains. 31 participants (12 patients) completed the first online survey (response rate 94%). 22/177 (12%) outcome measurement instruments were deemed truthful and feasible and their measurement properties were evaluated. 29 participants (12 patients) completed the second online survey (response rate 88%) and three outcome measurement instruments were endorsed: the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire, the single-leg heel rise test and evaluating pain after activity using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0–10). 12 participants (1 patient) attended the final consensus meeting, and 1 additional outcome measurement instrument was endorsed: evaluating pain during activity/loading using a VAS (0–10). It is recommended that the identified COS-AT will be used in future clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention. This will facilitate comparing outcomes of intervention strategies, data pooling and further progression of knowledge about AT. As COS-AT is implemented, further evidence on measurement properties of included measures and new outcome measurement instruments should lead to its review and refinement.
ContributorsRobert-Jan de Vos, Karin Gravare Silbernagel, Peter Malliaras, Tjerk Sleeswijk Visser, Hakan Alfredson, Inge van den Akker-Scheek, Mathijs van Ark, Annelie Brorsson, Ruth Chimenti, Sean Docking, Pernilla Eliasson, Kenneth Farnqvist, Zubair Haleem, Shawn L Hanlon, Jean-Francois Kaux, Rebecca Samantha Kearney, Paul D Kirwan, Kornelia Kulig, Bhavesh Kumar, Trevor Lewis, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Tun Hing Lui, Nicola Maffulli, Adrian James Mallows, Lorenzo Masci, Dennis McGonagle, Dylan Morrissey, Myles Calder Murphy, Richard Newsham-West, Katarina Maria Nilsson-Helander, Richard Norris, Francesco Oliva, Seth O’Neill, Koen Peers, Ebonie Kendra Rio, Igor Sancho, Alex Scott, Kayla D Seymore, Sze-Ee Soh, Patrick Vallance, Jan A N Verhaar, Arco C van der Vlist, Adam Weir, Jennifer Ann Zellers, Bill Vicenzino
Disease Category: Rehabilitation
Disease Name: Achilles tendinopathy
Age Range: 16 - 100
Sex: Either
Nature of Intervention: Any
- Clinical experts
- Consumers (patients)
- Epidemiologists
- Methodologists
- Patient/ support group representatives
- Researchers
- COS for clinical trials or clinical research
- COS for practice
- Recommendations for outcome measures (measurement/how)
- Consensus meeting
- Delphi process
- Survey
- Systematic review
Five stage process including: (I) a systematic review on available outcome measurement instruments, (II) an online survey on truth and feasibility of the available measurement instruments, (III) an assessment of the methodological quality of the selected outcome measurement instruments, (IV) an online survey on the measurement instruments as core outcome set, and (V) a consensus in person meeting.