Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the two intervention groups
| Variable | Protocol group (n = 60) | Guideline group (n = 54) |
|---|---|---|
| Age in years (mean; SD) | 41.5 (8.8) | 42.0 (9.9) |
| Women | 33 (55%) | 26 (48%) |
| Paid work (% yes) | 42 (70%) | 31 (57%) |
| Ethnic background | ||
| Dutch | 29 (48%) | 19 (35%) |
| Immigrant (European) | 3 (5%) | 2 (4%) |
| Immigrant (non-European) | 28 (47%) | 33 (61%) |
| Education level | ||
| Low | 17 (28%) | 15 (28%) |
| Middle | 30 (50%) | 28 (52%) |
| High | 13 (22%) | 11 (20%) |
| Duration current episode in weeks (mean; SD) | 53.9 (70.6) | 47.2 (64.3) |
| Previous complaints of LBP | 47 (78%) | 43 (80%) |
| # LBP episodes in the last 12 months | ||
| 0 episodes | 13 (22%) | 14 (26%) |
| 1–2 episodes | 6 (10%) | 4 (7%) |
| 3–5 episodes | 11 (18%) | 9 (17%) |
| More than 5 episodes | 8 (13%) | 3 (6%) |
| Nonstop complaints | 22 (37%) | 24 (44%) |
| Preference for treatment | ||
| Preference for protocol | 5 (8%) | 4 (7%) |
| Preference for guideline | 23 (38%) | 19 (35%) |
| No preference | 32 (53%) | 31 (57%) |
Data are number of patients (%) unless otherwise indicated