Table 2

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients (n = 95).

VariableValueaMissing Data

Age, mean (SD)48.7 (16.1)1

Sex (female)52 (54.7)0

Smoker38 (40.4)1

In paid employment32 (34)1

If employed, time off work for current back pain episode:7
 1–2 days5 (20) b
 3–7 days7 (28) b
 1–3 weeks1 (4) b
 > 3 weeks9 (36) b

Same or similar condition in the past73 (78.5)2

Pain-free for a whole month in the past six months18 (19)0

Duration of current back pain episode:2
 < 1 week5 (5.4)
 1–4 weeks14 (15.1)
 1–3 months22 (23.7)
 > 3 months52 (55.9)

Constant pain65 (68.4)0

Limited usual activities > one day83 (90.2)3

Medication on a daily basis for back pain60 (65.2)3

Other practitioner use62 (66.7)2

Expectation of recovery/improvement75 (84.3)6

Physically active in comparison to others47 (51.1)3

In good general health59 (62.8)1

EQ-5D VAS, mean (SD)54.1 (57.9)14

EQ-5D Index c, mean (SD)0.50 (0.24)3
SD = standard deviation,
VAS = visual analogue scale.

aValues are expressed as the number (%) unless otherwise noted.
bPercentage values are calculated from the total number employed in the sample with complete data (i.e. 25).
cSingle imputation methods (i.e. mean values) were used for missing EQ-5D data.