Musculoskeletal Flag Screening Tool

A broad based screening tool for musculoskeletal pain.

The Musculoskeletal Flag Profiler App is a screening tool enabling clinicians to assess the relative contribution of ‘Coloured Flags’ to a patients presenting condition. The patient profile presented by this app informs the treating clinician of the factors they need to consider which may negatively impact recovery from a musculoskeletal pain disorder.

This 25 item musculoskeletal questionnaire has been designed with face validity to screen patients and facilitate clinical reasoning thought processes.

THE FLAG CONCEPT

The concept of Red Flags in musculoskeletal medicine was derived to screen for signs of serious specific pathologies such as cancer and fractures. Subsequently Yellow Flags were added to screen for psychosocial factors that might be contributing to musculoskeletal pain and disability.

The flag concept has been elaborated to include a spectrum of coloured flags emphasizing expanded understanding of the factors which may contribute to maintenance of musculoskeletal pain and disability.

THE FLAGS

Biological (Red) Flags relate to indicators of serious specific pathologies that require urgent medical assessment and/or management.

Depression (Orange) Flags relate to the presence of psychiatric disorders such as clinical depression and post traumatic stress disorders.

Beliefs (Yellow) Flags relate to patient beliefs, emotions and interpretive behaviours.

Employment (Blue) Flags relate to employment issues which may negatively impact recovery.

Life Environment (Black) Flags relate to life environment issues such as legislation, conflict with insurers or seeking compensation.