Table 2. Baseline Characteristics by Treatment Group.
| Characteristic | Patients, No. (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual care (n = 145) | Risk-stratified care (n = 145) | Total (n = 290) | |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 33.6 (8.8) | 34.7 (8.1) | 34.1 (8.5) |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 48 (33.1) | 51 (35.2) | 99 (34.1) |
| Male | 97 (66.9) | 94 (64.8) | 191 (65.9) |
| Race | |||
| Asian | 10 (6.9) | 8 (5.5) | 18 (6.2) |
| Black or African American | 30 (20.7) | 28 (19.3) | 58 (20.0) |
| American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander | 1 (0.7) | 4 (2.8) | 5 (1.7) |
| White | 80 (55.2) | 77 (53.1) | 157 (54.1) |
| ≥1 Race | 11 (7.6) | 11 (7.6) | 22 (7.6) |
| Othera | 13 (9.0) | 17 (11.7) | 30 (10.3) |
| Hispanic/Latino ethnicity | 42 (29.0) | 44 (30.3) | 86 (29.7) |
| Education level | |||
| GED | 3 (2.1) | 0 | 3 (1.0) |
| High school | 48 (33.1) | 51 (35.2) | 99 (34.1) |
| Associate’s degree | 35 (24.1) | 34 (23.4) | 69 (23.8) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34 (23.4) | 33 (22.8) | 67 (23.1) |
| Master’s degree | 17 (11.7) | 25 (17.2) | 42 (14.5) |
| Doctorate degree | 8 (5.5) | 2 (1.4) | 10 (3.4) |
| Employment status | |||
| Full time | 138 (95.2) | 134 (92.4) | 272 (93.8) |
| Part time | 2 (1.4) | 3 (2.1) | 5 (1.7) |
| Not employed | 5 (3.4) | 8 (5.5) | 13 (4.5) |
| Marital status | |||
| Single | 28 (19.3) | 28 (19.3) | 56 (19.3) |
| Married or living with significant other | 105 (72.4) | 100 (70.0) | 205 (70.7) |
| Divorced, separated, or widowed | 12 (8.3) | 17 (11.7) | 29 (10.0) |
| Time in service, mean (SD), mob | 143.8 (88.2) | 149.3 (88.5) | 146.6 (88.2) |
| Active-duty service member | 118 (81.9) | 125 (86.2) | 243 (84.1) |
| Tobacco use | |||
| None | 126 (86.9) | 129 (89.0) | 255 (87.9) |
| Cigarettes | 7 (4.8) | 4 (2.8) | 11 (3.8) |
| Cigar | 1 (0.7) | 1 (0.7) | 2 (0.7) |
| Vape | 6 (4.1) | 3 (2.1) | 9 (3.1) |
| Smokeless or dip | 5 (3.4) | 7 (4.8) | 12 (4.1) |
| Other | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.7) | 1 (0.3) |
| Self-reported physical activity, aerobic days | |||
| <1/wk | 18 (12.4) | 16 (11.0) | 34 (11.7) |
| 1-3/wk | 67 (46.2) | 55 (37.9) | 122 (42.1) |
| >3/wk | 60 (41.4) | 74 (51.0) | 134 (46.2) |
| Average physical activityc | |||
| 1 | 5 (3.4) | 5 (3.4) | 10 (3.4) |
| 2 | 14 (9.7) | 15 (10.3) | 29 (10.0) |
| 3 | 54 (37.2) | 39 (26.9) | 93 (32.1) |
| 4 | 44 (30.3) | 51 (35.2) | 95 (32.8) |
| 5 | 28 (19.3) | 35 (24.1) | 63 (21.7) |
| By the end of your treatment, how much improvement in your limitations due to back pain do you really feel will occur (range, 0%-100%) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 63.9 (27.8) | 69.6 (24.3) | 66.8 (26.2) |
| Median (IQR) | 70.0 (50.0-90.0) | 80.0 (50.0-90.0) | 70.0 (50.0-90.0) |
| Baseline Credibility Score (range, 3-27), mean (SD) | 20.8 (4.7) | 21.3 (4.5) | 21.1 (4.6) |
| Baseline Expectancy Score (range, 3-27), mean (SD) | 19.1 (5.5) | 20.1 (5.0) | 19.6 (5.3) |
| Baseline STarT Back Screening Tool Risk Category | |||
| Low | 77 (53.1) | 83 (57.2) | 160 (55.2) |
| Medium | 57 (39.3) | 52 (35.9) | 109 (37.6) |
| High | 11 (7.6) | 10 (6.9) | 21 (7.2) |
| No. of LBP episodes in the last 5 yd | |||
| Mean (SD) | 26.1 (149.1) | 12.0 (29.5) | 19.1 (107.5) |
| Median (IQR) | 3 (1-10) | 3 (1-8) | 3 (1-10) |
| Baseline RMDQ score | |||
| Mean (SD) | 10.2 (5.8) | 9.3 (5.9) | 9.8 (5.8) |
| Median (IQR) | 11 (6-14) | 8 (5-14) | 9 (5-14) |
Abbreviations: LBP, low back pain; RMDQ, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; STarT Back, Subgroups of Targeted Treatment for Back Pain.
Other race is either self-reported as such or uses the label other assigned within the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility System.
This refers to the value for the sponsor, who is the active-duty service member (ie, if participant is a dependent, value refers to the service member sponsor).
Higher score indicates more activity.
LBP episode was defined based on answers to this question: “An episode of low back pain could easily last only 1 day or several weeks. A specific episode is over when the symptoms resolve for a period of time. Considering this, how many episodes of back pain have you had in the last 5 years, NOT including this CURRENT EPISODE you are seeking care for?”