Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine

Ji Sun Kim,1 Eunsan Kim,2 Seungwon Shin,3 In-Hyuk Ha,2 Yoon Jae Lee2 1Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Kore...

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Main Authors: Kim JS, Kim E, Shin S, Ha IH, Lee YJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/minimal-clinically-important-difference-in-patients-with-acute-neck-pa-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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author Kim JS
Kim E
Shin S
Ha IH
Lee YJ
author_facet Kim JS
Kim E
Shin S
Ha IH
Lee YJ
author_sort Kim JS
collection DOAJ
description Ji Sun Kim,1 Eunsan Kim,2 Seungwon Shin,3 In-Hyuk Ha,2 Yoon Jae Lee2 1Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Yoon Jae Lee, Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, 2F Vision Tower, 540 Gangnam-Daero, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-2-2222-2740, Email goodsmile8119@gmail.comPurpose: To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for patients with acute neck pain undergoing conservative treatment.Patients and Methods: This secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigated 128 individuals with acute neck pain receiving conservative treatment. The MCID and SCB of pain, functional disability, and quality of life were assessed using anchor-based methods. Patients’ global impression of changes at week 9 was used as the anchor. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed, and the Youden index was employed to determine the optimal cut-off point. Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to assess accuracy. Minimal detectable changes (MDCs) were estimated using a distribution-based approach.Results: The study cohort comprised 60.2% female patients with an average age of 40.7 ± 12.7 years. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain during movement at baseline was 64.5 ± 10.6. The outcome measures’ estimated MCID values (AUC) were as follows: VAS for pain during movement, − 19.9 (0.89) and at rest, − 17.5 (0.83); Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire score, − 14.7 (0.78); neck disability index, − 10.6 (0.77); and physical component summary (PCS), 2.0 (0.83). The SCB estimates indicated thresholds of outcome improvement to be 1.5– 3-fold higher. The MDC for PCS (9.49) exceeded its MCID and SCB.Conclusion: This study provides estimates for multidimensional MCID and SCB in acute neck pain treated conservatively. These values may assist clinicians in interpreting outcomes and setting meaningful treatment goals in clinical practice.Keywords: acute neck pain, minimal clinically important difference, conservative treatment, disability, quality of life
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spelling doaj-art-e88400266dfd4e9ab79a383a0cb3cdc02025-08-20T02:48:33ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902025-07-01Volume 18Issue 137093716105081Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean MedicineKim JSKim E0Shin S1Ha IH2Lee YJ3Jaseng Spine and Joint Research InstituteCollege of Korean MedicineJaseng Spine and Joint Research InstituteJaseng Spine and Joint Research InstituteJi Sun Kim,1 Eunsan Kim,2 Seungwon Shin,3 In-Hyuk Ha,2 Yoon Jae Lee2 1Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Yoon Jae Lee, Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, 2F Vision Tower, 540 Gangnam-Daero, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-2-2222-2740, Email goodsmile8119@gmail.comPurpose: To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for patients with acute neck pain undergoing conservative treatment.Patients and Methods: This secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigated 128 individuals with acute neck pain receiving conservative treatment. The MCID and SCB of pain, functional disability, and quality of life were assessed using anchor-based methods. Patients’ global impression of changes at week 9 was used as the anchor. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed, and the Youden index was employed to determine the optimal cut-off point. Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to assess accuracy. Minimal detectable changes (MDCs) were estimated using a distribution-based approach.Results: The study cohort comprised 60.2% female patients with an average age of 40.7 ± 12.7 years. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain during movement at baseline was 64.5 ± 10.6. The outcome measures’ estimated MCID values (AUC) were as follows: VAS for pain during movement, − 19.9 (0.89) and at rest, − 17.5 (0.83); Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire score, − 14.7 (0.78); neck disability index, − 10.6 (0.77); and physical component summary (PCS), 2.0 (0.83). The SCB estimates indicated thresholds of outcome improvement to be 1.5– 3-fold higher. The MDC for PCS (9.49) exceeded its MCID and SCB.Conclusion: This study provides estimates for multidimensional MCID and SCB in acute neck pain treated conservatively. These values may assist clinicians in interpreting outcomes and setting meaningful treatment goals in clinical practice.Keywords: acute neck pain, minimal clinically important difference, conservative treatment, disability, quality of lifehttps://www.dovepress.com/minimal-clinically-important-difference-in-patients-with-acute-neck-pa-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRAcute Neck painMinimal Clinically Important DifferenceConservative treatmentDisabilityQuality of Life
spellingShingle Kim JS
Kim E
Shin S
Ha IH
Lee YJ
Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
Journal of Pain Research
Acute Neck pain
Minimal Clinically Important Difference
Conservative treatment
Disability
Quality of Life
title Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
title_full Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
title_fullStr Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
title_full_unstemmed Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
title_short Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patients with Acute Neck Pain Undergoing Conservative Treatment with Korean Medicine
title_sort minimal clinically important difference in patients with acute neck pain undergoing conservative treatment with korean medicine
topic Acute Neck pain
Minimal Clinically Important Difference
Conservative treatment
Disability
Quality of Life
url https://www.dovepress.com/minimal-clinically-important-difference-in-patients-with-acute-neck-pa-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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