Reporting of social deprivation in musculoskeletal trials: an analysis of 402 randomised controlled trials

Smith, Toby O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2954, Kamper, Steven J., Williams, Christopher M. and Lee, Hopin (2021) Reporting of social deprivation in musculoskeletal trials: an analysis of 402 randomised controlled trials. Musculoskeletal Care, 19 (2). pp. 180-185. ISSN 1478-2189

[thumbnail of Accepted_Manuscript]
Preview
PDF (Accepted_Manuscript) - Accepted Version
Available under License Unspecified licence.

Download (184kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: Social deprivation is broadly defined as the restriction of access an individual has to social or cultural interactions due to poverty, discrimination or other disadvantages. While social deprivation is a widely acknowledged determinant of outcome in musculoskeletal conditions, it remains unclear how this is considered in the conduct and interpretation of musculoskeletal trials.  Aim: To determine the frequently to which measures of social deprivation are reported in trials recruiting people with musculoskeletal diseases.  Materials and Methods: We conducted a Pubmed search of randomised controlled trials published between 01 January 2019 and 01 June 2020. We included full-text papers of trials recruiting people with musculoskeletal diseases, irrespective of intervention type or origin. We extracted data relating to trial characteristics, setting, trial design, funding source and musculoskeletal disease. We extracted data on any reported social deprivation index or measure of social deprivation based on internationally adopted indicators. We analysed data descriptively to summarise the reporting of each social deprivation index and measure of social deprivation within trials.  Results: From 2133 potentially eligible citations, 402 were eligible. Mean age of participants was 51.7 years; 63% were female. Trials most frequently recruited people with spinal pain (24.6%) or osteoarthritis (10.0%). Two trials (0.5%) reported social deprivation indices/scores. When assessed by discrete measures of social deprivation, 164 trials (40.8%) reported one or more social deprivation measures. The most commonly reported measures were morbidity (20.2%), employment status (17.7%) and educational attainment (15.5%). Race (6.7%), ethnicity (6.2%) and annual salary (1.3%) were infrequently reported. One trial (0.3%) presented subgroup results by social deprivation measures.  Discussion and Conclusion: Social deprivation is inconsistently reported in musculoskeletal trials. Trialists should report baseline measures of social deprivation in trial reports and aid generalisability to target population, and to examine whether social deprivation might modify treatment effects of interventions for musculoskeletal conditions.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: orthopaedics,rheumatology,rct,marginalisation,economic status,educational attainment,generalisability,effect modifying
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 05 Oct 2020 23:58
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 02:47
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/77120
DOI: 10.1002/msc.1520

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item