Candidate lumbar spinal stenosis outcomes and definitions
| No | Candidate outcome | Definition | Resources |
| 1 | Pain | Experiencing an unpleasant physical sensation that aches, hurts in one or more joints or the spine; an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described for such damage.29 | SLR+Int |
| 2 | Function | Being able to perform physical activities (includes lower extremity functioning, balance); patient’s ability to carry out daily physical activities required to meet basic needs, ranging from self-care to more complex activities that require a combination of skills.24 | SLR+Int |
| 3 | ADL | Fundamental skills required to independently care for oneself, such as eating, bathing and mobility.25 | SLR+Int |
| 4 | ROM | Quantity of movement of the lumbar spine and/or of other adjacent body parts (ie, thoracic spine, pelvis, rib cage or lower limbs).24 | SLR+Int |
| 5 | Symptoms | Presence of symptoms on back, leg and walking.27 | SLR+Int |
| 6 | Measure of walking | Measuring ability, capability, distance, performance of walking.24 | SLR+Int |
| 7 | Global rating of change | Considering the ways that the health condition affects the individual on a given day.30 | SLR+Int |
| 8 | AE | Any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of an intervention in humans, whether or not considered intervention related.31 | SLR+Int |
| 9 | Biomarks | Indicators aimed at providing insight into peripheral and central neurobiological mechanisms of pain.24 | SLR |
| 10 | Radiographic changes | medical imaging such as MRI, CT, X-ray detecting the changes of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, nerves and other body structures localised on the lumbar spine and/or on other adjacent body parts (ie, thoracic spine, pelvis, rib cage or lower limbs).24 | SLR+Int |
| 11 | CM-specific outcomes | CM outcomes related to CM Zheng or meridians based on CM theory.28 | SLR |
| 12 | Mental health | A person’s condition with regard to their psychological, social and emotional well-being.26 | SLR+Int |
| 13 | Satisfaction index | Satisfaction with care received, including of the process and outcomes of the treatment experience and care providers.24 | SLR+Int |
| 14 | Quality of life | Broad multidimensional concept that usually includes subjective evaluations of both positive and negative aspects of life, including health-related quality of life.26 | SLR |
| 15 | Adherence and attrition | Withdrawal from treatment.20 | SLR |
| 16 | Psychosocial | An individual’s interactions with their environment and the ability to fulfil their role within such environments as work, social activities, and relationships with partners and family.24 | SLR |
| 17 | Resource use | Treatment burden such as impact of treatment and monitoring of disease or treatment (ie, financial loss due to treatment cost, work loss or time commitment).20 | Int |
ADL, activities of daily living; AE, adverse events; CM, Chinese medicine; Int, interview; ROM, range of movement; SLR, systematic literature review.