Variable | n (%) | or | mean (SD) |
---|---|---|---|
1) Patients (n = 78) | Â | Â | Â |
Gender | Â | Â | Â |
   Men | 38 (48.7) |  |  |
   Women | 40 (51.3) |  |  |
Age (years; range: 24.2 – 73.0) |  |  | 47.5 (10.6) |
Marital status | Â | Â | Â |
   Never married | 12 (15.4) |  |  |
   Married or living as married | 62 (79.5) |  |  |
   Divorced/Separated/Widowed | 4 (5.1) |  |  |
Current occupation | Â | Â | Â |
   Off work for health reasons | 8 (10.3) |  |  |
   Full/Part-time work | 50 (64.1) |  |  |
   Does not work/Retired | 17 (21.8) |  |  |
   Student/Other | 3 (3.8) |  |  |
Highest level of education (part or complete) | Â | Â | Â |
   Primary school | 1 (1.3) |  |  |
   Junior/High school | 15 (19.2) |  |  |
   Junior College | 21 (26.9) |  |  |
   University | 41 (52.6) |  |  |
Current financial compensation | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 13 (16.7) |  |  |
   No | 65 (83.3) |  |  |
Previous low back pain | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 63 (80.8) |  |  |
   No | 15 (19.2) |  |  |
Previous physiotherapy treatment for low back pain | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 37 (47.4) |  |  |
   No | 41 (52.6) |  |  |
Previous treatment at participating clinic | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 43 (55.1) |  |  |
   No | 35 (44.9) |  |  |
Previous treatment with same physiotherapist | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 13 (16.7) |  |  |
   No | 65 (83.3) |  |  |
Physiotherapist was referred to patient by a third party | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 22 (28.2) |  |  |
   No | 56 (71.8) |  |  |
Pain duration (days; range: 1.0 – 90.0) |  |  | 22.0 (23.7) |
Phase of pain | Â | Â | Â |
   Acute (0 – 4 weeks) | 59 (75.6) |  |  |
   Sub-acute (4 – 12 weeks) | 19 (24.4) |  |  |
Pain location | Â | Â | Â |
   Back only/Back and buttocks | 46 (59.0) |  |  |
   Back and leg, above the knee | 8 (10.3) |  |  |
   Back and leg, below the knee | 15 (19.2) |  |  |
   Leg or buttocks only | 9 (11.5) |  |  |
Psychological distress (%; range: 0.0 – 50.0) |  |  | 12.5 (10.5) |
2) Physiotherapists (n = 9) | Â | Â | Â |
Gender | Â | Â | Â |
   Men | 4 (44.4) |  |  |
   Women | 5 (55.6) |  |  |
Age (years; range: 23.2 – 50.1) |  |  | 33.2 (9.4) |
Marital status | Â | Â | Â |
   Never married | 4 (44.4) |  |  |
   Married or living as married | 5 (55.6) |  |  |
Personal experience of low back pain | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 8 (88.9) |  |  |
   No | 1 (11.1) |  |  |
Professional experience (years; range: 0.0 – 22.2) |  |  | 8.6 (7.6) |
Proportion of patients with low back pain in daily practice (%; range: 30.0 – 50.0) |  |  | 38.9 (8.2) |