The Knee Pain Screening Tool (KNEST)

We have developed and validated a short questionnaire, the Knee Pain Screening Tool (KNEST) for use in the first stages of a population based needs assessment. The aim of the KNEST is to screen for knee pain (all knee pain, non-chronic and chronic knee pain) and associated health care use in the general population. By screening and subdividing the population in this way different needs for services and unmet needs may be identified.

We have used the KNEST alongside other measures (Short Form 36, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) in two postal surveys in North Staffordshire.

A baseline survey was mailed in March 2000 to all people aged 50 and over registered with three general practices (n=8995). A follow-up survey was sent to all baseline responders in April 2003 (n=6792).

Publications:

  • Jinks C, Jordan K, Ong BN, Croft P. A brief screening tool for knee pain in primary care (KNEST). 2. Results from a survey in the general population aged 50 and over Rheumatology 2004; 43, 1: 55-61.
  • Jinks C, Jordan K, Croft P. Evaluation of a computer-assisted data entry procedure (including Teleform for Large-scale mailed surveys Computers in Biology and Medicine 2003; 33: 425-437.
  • Jinks C, Jordan K, Croft P. Measuring the population impact of knee pain and disability with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). Pain 2002; 100:55-64.
  • Jinks C Ong BN Croft P. Postal surveys in primary care: the hidden burden. Health Expectations 2001; Dec (4):253-9.
  • Jinks C, Lewis M, Ong BN, Croft P. A brief screening tool for knee pain in primary care. I. Validity and reliability, Rheumatology 2001; 40:5:528-536.

The KNEST can be downloaded here: KNEST