Table 4.
Responses to Vignette A and their association with experience of pain
| Number (%) | |||
| Suggestions (n = 315) | Pain* | Yes | No |
| 1. Advise her that she must continue to rest? | None | 24 (27.0) | 65 (73.0) |
| χ2 = 6.7 df = 2 p = 0.035 | Short | 34 (18.1) | 154 (81.9) |
| Long | 3 (7.9) | 35 (92.1) | |
| Total | 61 (19.4) | 254 (80.6) | |
| 2. Suggest adequate analgesia? | None | 85 (95.5) | 4 (4.5) |
| χ2 = 2.4 df = 2 p = 0.300 | Short | 177 (94.1) | 11 (5.9) |
| Long | 38 (100) | 0 (0) | |
| Total | 300 (95.2) | 15 (4.8) | |
| 3. Tell her to avoid any movement that hurts? | None | 45 (50.6) | 44 (49.4) |
| χ2 = 6.5 df = 2 p = 0.040 | Short | 85 (45.2) | 103 (54.8) |
| Long | 10 (26.3) | 28 (73.7) | |
| Total | 140 (44.4) | 175 (55.6) | |
| 4. Suggest that swimming or movement in water might be helpful? | None | 59 (66.3) | 30 (33.7) |
| χ2 = 9.5 df = 2 p = 0.008 | Short | 142 (75.5) | 46 (24.5) |
| Long | 35 (92.1) | 3 (7.9) | |
| Total | 236 (74.9) | 79 (25.1) | |
| 5. Suggest that carrying on with her usual activities as far as possible is the best thing she could do? | None | 43 (48.3) | 46 (51.7) |
| χ2 = 0.7 df = 2 p = 0.701 | Short | 99 (52.9) | 88 (47.1) |
| Long | 21 (55.3) | 17 (44.7) | |
| Total | 163 (51.9) | 151 (48.1) | |
| 6. Reassure her that back pain affects nearly everyone at some time but usually settles quickly? | None | 30 (33.7) | 59 (66.3) |
| χ2 = 11.6 df = 2 p = 0.003 | Short | 102 (54.3) | 86 (45.7) |
| Long | 22 (57.9) | 16 (42.1) | |
| Total | 154 (48.9) | 161 (51.1) | |
| 7. Warn her that back pain often gets worse before it gets better? | None | 7 (7.9) | 82 (92.1) |
| χ2 = 1.2 df = 2 p = 0.546 | Short | 11 (5.9) | 177 (94.1) |
| Long | 4 (10.5) | 34 (89.5) | |
| Total | 22 (7.0) | 293 (93.0) | |
*See first footnote to Table 3.