Table 1.
Variables investigated in the present study. Numbers and percentages, unless indicated otherwise
| GP group N = 96 (%) |
Social work group N = 98 (%) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Socio-demographic characteristics | ||
| Gender (female) | 58 (60.4) | 57 (58,2) |
| Age mean (SD) | 40.1 (9.3) | 39.4 (9.1) |
| Level of education | ||
| Lower level | 17 (17.9) | 14 (14.4) |
| Intermediate level | 58 (61.1) | 67 (69.1) |
| Higher level | 20 (21.1) | 16 (16.5) |
| Has partner | 74 (75.6) | 77 (77.9) |
| Has children aged 0–11 | 32 (33.3) | 39 (39.8) |
| Has children aged 12–18* | 33 (34.4) | 14 (14.3) |
| Works part time (≤32 h) | 27 (29.3) | 34 (35.8) |
| Chronic somatic disease | 12 (12.6) | 18 (18.9) |
| Problem related characteristics | ||
| Previous mental problems | 22 (23.2) | 17 (17.7) |
| Onset symptoms > 3 ms before T0 | 54 (59.3) | 55 (62.5) |
| Onset sick leave ≥ 3 weeks before T0 | 38 (41.3) | 31 (31.6) |
| Own prediction RTW < 6 weeks | 20 (20.8) | 18 (18.4) |
| Attributes cause of absenteeism to | ||
| Work | 70 (72.9) | 71 (73.2) |
| Health problems | 16 (16.7) | 22 (22.7) |
| Relationship with partner | 19 (19.8) | 8 (8.2) |
| Family (partner/children) | 21 (21.9) | 14 (14.4) |
| Relatives | 13 (13.5) | 17 (17.5) |
| Financial problems | 15 (15.6) | 16 (16.5) |
| Stressful life event | 29 (30.2) | 23 (23.7) |
| Other problems | 20 (20.8) | 17 (17.3) |
| Health care use T0 | ||
| Contact with GP past 4 weeks | 94 (97.9) | 94 (96.9) |
| Contact with OP past 4 weeks | 52 (54.2) | 36 (37.1) |
| Contact medical specialist past 4 weeks | 8 (8.3) | 9 (9.3) |
| Contact mental health professional past 4 weeks | 7 (7.3) | 9 (9.2) |
| Contact physical therapist past 4 weeks | 12 (13.6) | 7 (7.2) |
| Contact complementary healer | 6 (6.3) | 8 (8.2) |
| Benzodiazepam use | 26 (27.1) | 26 (26.5) |
| Antidepressant use | 8 (8.3) | 10 (10.2) |
| 4DSQ scores (T0), mean (SD) | ||
| Distress (range 0–32) | 21.4 (7.4) | 20.0 (7.2) |
| Depression (range 0–12) | 3.0 (3.0) | 2.8 (2.9) |
| Anxiety (range 0–24) | 4.7 (4.7) | 3.7 (4.0) |
| Somatization (range 0–32) | 12.5 (6.4) | 11.9 (6.0) |
| Health care use T1 | N = 88 (%) | N = 97 (%) |
| Contact with GP past 4 weeks | 38 (43.2) | 33 (34.0) |
| Contact with OP past 4 weeks | 49 (55.7) | 54 (55.7) |
| Contact medical specialist past 4 weeks | 10 (11.4) | 16 (16.5) |
| Contact mental health professional past 4 weeks | 40 (45.5) | 73 (75.3) |
| Contact physical therapist past 4 weeks | 12 (13.6) | 7 (7.2) |
| Contact complementary healer | 8 (9.1) | 8 (8.2) |
| Benzodiazepam use | 20 (20.8) | 20 (20.4) |
| Antidepressant use | 5 (5.2) | 6 (6.1) |
| 4DSQ scores (T1), mean (SD) | N = 88 | N = 97 |
| Distress (range 0–32) | 10.9 (8.5) | 8.4 (7.2) |
| Depression (range 0–12) | 1.3 (2.2) | 0.9 (1.9) |
| Anxiety (range 0–24) | 2.3 (4.4) | 1.6 (3.4) |
| Somatization (range 0–32) | 7.1 (6.1) | 5.6 (5.7) |
* X 2 10.6; DF 1; P < 0.001