Table 1 Baseline characteristics of a working population with shoulder disorders (n = 350), and univariable associations with sick leave (yes/no) during 6 months following first consultation in general practice

Demographic

Age (years); mean (SD)

45 (11)

1.0

1.0, 1.0

0.26

Gender: male

193 (55)

0.9

0.5, 1.4

0.56

Education

0.02

   Low*

98 (28)

-

   Middle

148 (43)

0.5

0.3, 0.9

   High

99 (29)

0.4

0.2, 0.9

Disease characteristics

Duration of complaints

0.77

   0–6 weeks*

139 (40)

-

   7–12 weeks

77 (22)

1.1

0.6, 2.1

   >3 months

134 (38)

0.9

0.5, 1.5

Sick leave at baseline in preceding 2 months

<0.001

   0 weeks*

254 (74)

-

   ≤1 weeks

44 (13)

1.8

0.9, 3.9

   >1 weeks

46 (13)

3.3

1.6, 6.9

Gradual onset (vs. acute)

212 (61)

1.0

0.6, 1.6

0.89

Opinion regarding cause

   Unexpected movement

16 (5)

1.7

0.5, 5.6

0.36

   Strain/overuse: unusual activities

56 (16)

0.5

0.2, 1.1

0.08

   Strain/overuse: regular activities

99 (28)

2.4

1.4, 4.1

<0.001

   Injury

15 (4)

4..4

1.4, 15.3

0.01

   Sport injury

22 (6)

0.5

0.1, 1.7

0.26

   Unknown

133 (38)

1.4

0.9, 2.4

0.17

Shoulder complaints in the past

199 (57)

1.4

0.8, 2.3

0.19

Neck complaints in the past

165 (48)

1.5

0.9, 2.4

0.11

Dominant side involved

210 (60)

1.5

0.9, 2.4

0.15

Co-existing psychological complaints

27 (8)

5.4

2.0, 13.9

<0.001

Additional musculoskeletal complaints

   Neck/high back

119 (34)

1.6

1.0, 2.7

0.07

   Low back pain

61 (17)

1.3

0.6, 2.4

0.50

   Upper extremity

96 (27)

1.4

0.8, 2.5

0.21

   Lower extremity

77 (22)

0.7

0.4, 1.3

0.30

Shoulder pain (0–10); mean (SD)

4.5 (2.3)

0.01

   0–3 points*

-

   4–6 points

2.4

1.3, 4.5

   7–10 points

2.3

1.2, 4.5

Shoulder disability (SDQ) (0–100); mean (SD)

58.4 (24.0)

1.9

0.8, 4.8

0.24

Physical examination

ROM shoulder (0–18) (median, IQR)

3 (2–5)

0.7^#

0.3, 1.6

0.74

Pain shoulder with movement (<12, ≥ 12 points)

6.3 (4.0)

2.9^#

1.3, 6.7

0.03

ROM neck (0–4) (median, IQR)

0 (0–1.5)

1.2^#

0.7, 2.2

0.41

Pain neck with movement (0–18) (median, IQR)

0 (0–3)

1.1

1.0, 1.3

0.01

Physical factors

Physical work load (0–5) (median, IQR)

1.6 (1.6)

1.3

1.1, 1.5

0.01

Repetitive movements (yes/no)

279 (80)

1.0

0.6, 1.9

0.97

Sitting in static position for long duration (yes/no)

138 (40)

1.2

0.7, 1.9

0.54

Physical activity in comparison to others

0.09

   more active*

130 (37)

-

   equally active

158 (45)

1.5

0.9, 2.7

   less active

60 (17)

2.2

1.1, 4.5

Psychological factors

Coping; mean (SD)

   Catastrophizing (1–6)

2.2 (0.8)

1.6

1.1, 2.2

0.01

   Coping with pain (1–6)

2.9 (1.0)

2.6^#

0.4, 17.9

0.44

   Internal locus of control (1–6)

3.4 (0.9)

1.5^#

0.4, 5.5

0.76

   External locus of control (1–6)

3.1 (0.9)

1.9^#

0.3, 14.2

0.76

4DSQ (median, IQR)

   Distress (0–32)

0 (0–2)

4.4^$

1.3, 15.5

0.01

   Depression (0–12)^b

0 (0-0)

-

   Anxiety (0–24)^b

0 (0-0)

-

   Somatization (0–32)

2 (0–4)

3.0^$

1.0, 9.1

0.05

Fear-avoidance (0–24); mean (SD)

14.4 (5.0)

1.1

1.0, 1.1

0.04

Kinesiophobia (0–12); mean (SD)

3.3 (3.4)

1.7^#

0.5, 5.3

0.07

Psychosocial work environment

Quantitative job demands (5–20); mean (SD)

12.8 (2.7)

1.4^#

0.6, 3.0

0.68

Skill discretion (5–20); mean (SD)

15.3 (2.8)

1.8^&

0.6, 5.3

0.57

Decision authority (3–12); mean (SD)

9.4 (1.8)

0.8

0.7, 0.9

<0.001

Co-worker support (4–16); mean (SD)

12.3 (2.0)

10.1^&

1.1, 92.4

0.07

Supervisor support (4–16); mean (SD)

11.2 (2.5)

2.0^&

0.9, 4.2

0.20