Table 1.

Summary of outcome measures

Variable	Definition
VAS: Visual Analogue Scale	A patient completed analogue measure that evaluates pain intensity on a 100 mm long horizontal line.
ODI Oswestry Disability Index	The back pain specific, self-rating scale to measure the degree of functional impairment that a subject is experiencing in a number of activities of daily living.
Patient Satisfaction	A self-developed questionnaire based on Cherkin’s satisfaction questionnaire.
Patient Expectation	The recovery expectations measured using a time-based, specific single-item tool produced a strong prediction of outcome.
SF-36: Short Form-36 item health survey	A set of generic, coherent, and easily administered physical and mental quality-of-life measures.