Fig. 2

Moderator analysis for short-term outcomes (change from baseline to short-term follow-up) between control (non-active usual care and sham) and all intervention treatments with estimated interaction term and its 95% confidence interval. Abbreviations: RMDQ, Roland Morris disability questionnaire; FFbHR, Hannover functional ability questionnaire for measuring back-pain related functional limitations; QALY, quality-adjusted life-years. a estimate of the treatment effect for participants with positive belief (low fear avoidance) of fear avoidance belief was greater as opposed to those with the negative attitude; b estimate of the treatment effect for participants with moderate belief of fear avoidance was greater as opposed to those with the negative attitude; c estimate of the treatment effect for participants with positive attitude of catastrophising (low catastrophising score) was greater as opposed to those with the negative attitude (high catastrophising score); d estimate of the treatment effect for participants with moderate attitude of catastrophising was greater as opposed to those with the negative attitude; e estimate of the treatment effect for participants with low risk of anxiety was less as opposed to those with the high risk; f estimate of the treatment effect for participants with moderate risk of anxiety was less as opposed to those with the high risk; g estimate of the treatment effect for participants with positive attitude of coping strategy (high coping score) was less as opposed to those with the negative attitude (low coping score); h estimate of the treatment effect for participants with moderate attitude of coping strategy was less as opposed to those with the negative attitude; i estimate of the treatment effect for participants with SF-12/36 MCS score lower than general norm (< 50) was less as opposed to those with score at or above the general norm (≥50); j estimate of the treatment effect for male was less as opposed to female