Table 1 Characteristics of the patients interviewed
Gender | Age | Geographical location within the UK | Duration of current pain episode | Pain severity at its worst over the past week (on a 0–10 scale, where 0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain) | Employment status | Job type | Work absence in previous month | Response to: how often do you need someone to help when you read written material from your doctor or pharmacy? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F | 58 | West Midlands | > 1 year | 6/10 | Not working due to ill-health | n/a | n/a | Rarely |
F | 79 | West Midlands | 2–6 weeks | 3 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
M | 68 | West Midlands | 2–6 weeks | 8 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Rarely |
M | 74 | South Midlands | > 1 year | 8 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Rarely |
M | 74 | North West | 6–12 weeks | 4 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
M | 58 | South Midlands | 2–6 weeks | 7 | Employed | Not disclosed | No | Rarely |
M | 46 | North West | 3–6 months | 6 | Employed | Engineer | No | Never |
M | 60 | North West | 6–12 weeks | 5 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
F | 67 | West Midlands | 6–12 weeks | 8 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
F | 68 | West Midlands | > 1 year | 10 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Not disclosed |
F | 55 | South Midlands | 6–12 weeks | 10 | Employed | Manager | No | Rarely |
M | 70 | South Midlands | 6–12 weeks | 7 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Always |
M | 69 | West Midlands | 2–6 weeks | 10 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
F | 38 | West Midlands | 6 m-1 year | 7 | Employed | Cleaner | No | Never |
M | 57 | North West | 3–6 months | 8 | Employed | Technician | No | Never |
M | 53 | West Midlands | 6 m-1 year | 8 | Employed | Labourer | 10 days | Never |
F | 39 | South East | > 1 year | 7 | Employed | Instructor | No | Never |
M | 65 | South East | > 1 year | 10 | Employed | Driver | No | Sometimes |
M | 70 | South East | > 1 year | 8 | Employed | Not disclosed | No | Never |
F | 64 | South East | 6–12 weeks | 6 | Employed | Manager | No | Never |
M | 55 | South East | 6–12 weeks | 7 | Not working due to ill-health | n/a | n/a | Never |
F | 79 | South East | > 1 year | 8 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Rarely |
F | 73 | South East | 2–6 weeks | 8 | Retired | n/a | n/a | Never |
F | 41 | South East | 6–12 weeks | 5 | Employed | Publisher | No | Never |