Table 2 Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants (n = 1052)
Characteristics | n (%) |
|---|---|
Sex | Â |
 Male | 668 (63.5) |
Age, year (mean ± SD) | 48.3 ± 12.6 |
LBP before this episode | Â |
 Yes | 869 (82.7) |
Duration of current episode | Â |
 ≥3–< 6 months | 62 (5.9) |
 ≥6–< 12 months | 79 (7.5) |
 ≥12–< 18 months | 76 (7.2) |
 ≥18 months | 835 (79.4) |
Severity of LBP | Â |
 Grade Ia | 351 (33.4) |
 Grade IIb | 353 (33.6) |
 Grade IIIc | 348 (33.1) |
Normal work | Â |
 Regular employee | 405 (38.5) |
 Contract employee | 171 (16.3) |
 Temporary employee | 27 (2.6) |
 Business owner | 76 (7.2) |
 Helping family business | 8 (0.8) |
 Home worker | 22 (2.1) |
 Student | 3 (0.3) |
 Homemaker | 136 (12.9) |
 Unemployed | 178 (16.9) |
 Other | 26 (2.5) |
Length of current sick leave | Â |
 Not on sick leave | 640 (60.8) |
 < 1 month | 289 (27.5) |
 ≥1–< 3 months | 42 (4.0) |
 ≥3–< 6 months | 20 (1.9) |
 ≥6–< 12 months | 12 (1.1) |
 ≥12–< 18 months | 5 (0.5) |
 ≥18 months | 44 (4.2) |
Educational level | Â |
 Junior High school | 31 (2.9) |
 Secondary education | 545 (51.8) |
 University education | 427 (40.6) |
 Higher degree | 46 (4.4) |
 Others | 3 (0.3) |
Type of work | Â |
 Sedentary | 477 (45.3) |
 Physical | 198 (18.8) |
 Others | 377 (35.8) |
Current treatment for LBP | Â |
 Yes | 261 (24.8) |
Radiation of current pain | Â |
 To the buttock or thigh but not to the knee | 182 (17.3) |
 To the buttock, thigh, shin and feet | 156 (14.8) |
 No | 714 (67.9) |
Non-specific/Specific LBP | Â |
 Non-specific | 714 (67.9) |
 Disc herniation, spinal stenosis or both | 121 (11.5) |
 Other cause of radiation of pain | 217 (20.6) |
Pain location (COMI) | Â |
 Low back pain and back pain | 499 (47.4) |
 Leg/buttock pain | 133 (12.6) |
 Sensory disturbances (back, leg or buttocks) | 163 (15.5) |
 Other | 257 (24.4) |