Prevention of chronicization of low back pain requires accurate detection of at-risk patients. Questionnaires have been validated, including the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) and the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (OMPSQ). This review aims to compare these questionnaires in terms of predictive value and in terms of aims, to guide the choice in clinical practice.

This study is a semi-systematic literature review. Studies evaluating at least one of the questionnaires and written between 1997 and October 10th 2017 were selected from Pubmed database. Inclusion criteria were pain duration<3months, outcomes including pain, function and/or global recovery. For work outcomes, inclusion criteria were extended to chronic patients. Studies had to provide information on sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC Curve (AUC).

Twenty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria (7 SBST, 21 original OMPSQ, 3 short OMPSQ). The OMPSQ best predicted a Pain NRS≥3 at 3 months (AUC=0.64 (0.50–0.78)) and at 6 months (AUC between 0.70 (no confidence interval provided) and 0.84 (0.71–0.97)). The SBST and the OMPSQ are comparable to predict an Oswestry Disability Index≥30% at 6 months. A single study showed no difference between the SBST and the OMPSQ to predict absenteeism≥30 days at 6 months. The two questionnaires cannot be compared for “global recovery” outcomes.

The OMPSQ seems better than the SBST for predicting “pain” and “work” outcomes, the SBST may be better for “function” outcomes. These results should be taken with caution because of the high heterogeneity between studies. It should be noted that the OMPSQ was elaborated with the aim of creating a prognostic tool while the SBST was devised as a treatment-allocating tool and is easier to use in clinical practice. This should guide the choice of using one questionnaire rather than the other.