Refining of an Online Rotator Cuff Related Pain Screening Tool (ORCS): A Mixed Methods Refinement Study

Authors

• Andrew J. Smythe, Monash UniversityFollow
• Rhiannon Whale, Monash UniversityFollow
• Melanie Farlie, Monash UniversityFollow
• Peter Malliaras, Monash UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to refine an online rotator cuff related shoulder pain screening tool. Method: A mixed methods item-refinement study was used. The original tool was designed through expert opinion and informal literature review. In this study the original tool was refined over three rounds of cognitive interviews totalling 39 participants. The screening tool consisted of two sections, red flag screening followed by rotator cuff related shoulder pain differential diagnostic items. Results from each round of interviews were summarised and informed a nominal group research panel review process to modify items and develop a finalised version of the tool. Results: Successive rounds of tool modification improved the mean item clarity on a 0-10 scale (9.0 up to 9.6), and reduced the frequency of incorrect interpretation of items (10.3% down to 3.4%), and participants answering ‘not sure’ (9.0%  down to 4.3%) from the original tool to the third version of the tool. Conclusion: A high level of comprehension in a general adult population with shoulder pain was achieved with the final iteration of the screening tool.  Future investigations are needed to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the tool.

Author Bio(s)

Melanie Farlie, BPhysio, PGCertPhysio, GradCertHPE, PhD, FHEA, FANZAHPE, Titled APA Research Physiotherapist, is a Senior Lecturer and Lead of the Balance Exercise Research Group, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, and Education Research Fellow, Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Rhiannon Whale (BSc Hons) is a Research Support Officer in the School of Primary and Allied Health Care at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and a Physiotherapist.

Peter Malliaras, BPhysio (Hons), PhD, is a Professor of Physiotherapy Research and Director of Research in the School of Primary and Allied Health Care at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a practicing physiotherapist in Australia

Andrew Smythe, BPhysio, MSportsPhysio, is an APA titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist who works clinically in Australia and is completing his PhD part time investigating diagnosis of rotator cuff related shoulder pain

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the research team of the ADVISE trial for their collection and collation of diagnostic data. They acknowledge those involved in the INTEL trial and creation of the original tool that has been modified. They also thank all the participants who participated in this study, taking considerable time out of their days to participate in interviews.

Recommended Citation

Smythe AJ, Whale R, Farlie M, Malliaras P. Refining of an Online Rotator Cuff Related Pain Screening Tool (ORCS): A Mixed Methods Refinement Study. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2026 Jun 24;24(2), Article 28.