Table 1.
Description of Variables: Total Sample
| Variable | Description | No. (%) of patients | n* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | >50 y | 563 (51.4) | 1,096 |
| Symptom duration | >6 mo | 277 (58.9) | 470 |
| Sex | Female | 604 (52.0) | 1,162 |
| Residence | Rural | 739 (64.7) | 1,143 |
| Funding | Direct bill | 384 (85.7) | 448 |
| WCB | 25 (5.6) | 448 | |
| Unable to pay | 23 (5.1) | 448 | |
| Other insurance | 16 (3.6) | 448 | |
| Diagnosis | Surgical spine | 15 (2.0) | 746 |
| Mechanical spine | 690 (92.5) | 746 | |
| Other body part | 22 (2.9) | 746 | |
| Medical/other | 19 (2.5) | 746 | |
| Management recommendations | Referral to surgeon | 98 (12.2) | 802 |
| Referral to another specialist | 21 (2.6) | 802 | |
| PT treatment | 593 (73.9) | 802 | |
| PT treatment+surgical referral | 36 (4.5) | 802 | |
| Exercise programme | 4 (0.5) | 802 | |
| No further follow-up | 50 (6.2) | 802 | |
| Management recommendations (dichotomized) | Referral to surgeon (any)† | 134 (16.7) | 802 |
| Surgical management | Surgery performed, recommended, or pending | 30 (4.4) | 677 |
*
Each variable has a different n, for a variety of reasons (variable may not have been known at the time of the assessment, or the data may not have been recorded at the time of the assessment).
†
Combination of categories (1) and (4) from Management Recommendations in Box 1.
WCB=Worker's Compensation Board; PT=physiotherapy.