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. 2013 Jan 29;346:f43. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f43

Table 1.

 Baseline characteristics of randomised patients*

No (%) of patients
Usual care (n=743, 33%) PhysioDirect (n=1506, 67%)
Female sex† 438 (59) 897 (60)
Age (years)†‡ 48(36-62) 48(37-61)
White ethnicity 705 (96) 1,439 (97)
Employed 417 (57) 925 (62)
Site of musculoskeletal problem†
 Cervical 89 (12) 185 (12)
 Thoracic 13 (2) 35 (2)
 Lumbar 203 (27) 412 (27)
 Upper limb 174 (23) 351 (23)
 Lower limb 225 (30) 450 (30)
 Widespread pain 7 (1) 8 (1)
 Multiple 27 (4) 55 (4)
 Other 4 (1) 10 (1)
Primary care trust†
 Bristol 251 (34) 499 (33)
 Somerset 165 (22) 348 (23)
 Cheshire 174 (23) 353 (23)
 Stoke 153 (21) 306 (20)
Time off work (days)‡ 0 (0-5) 0 (0-5)
SF-36v2 (physical component score)§ 37.72 (8.63) 36.81 (8.88)

*Excluding seven patients excluded after randomisation.

†Stratification/minimisation variable.

‡Median (interquartile range).

§Mean (standard deviation).