Table 1.
Demographics (N = 86)
| Parameter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | SD | Range | |
| Age (years) | 46 | 15 | 21–79 |
| Education (years of school, n = 84) | 17 | 2.9 | 11–22 |
| Number | % | ||
| Sex | |||
| Male | 44 | 51 | |
| Female | 42 | 48 | |
| Marital status | |||
| Single | 23 | 26 | |
| Living with partner | 3 | 3.5 | |
| Married | 52 | 61 | |
| Separated/divorced | 6 | 7.1 | |
| Widowed | 2 | 2.4 | |
| Work status | |||
| Working full time | 52 | 60 | |
| Working part time | 7 | 8.1 | |
| Homemaker | 5 | 5.8 | |
| Retired | 11 | 13 | |
| Unemployed, able to work | 5 | 5.8 | |
| Unemployed, unable to work | 3 | 3.5 | |
| Currently on sick leave | 1 | 1.1 | |
| Missing | 2 | 2 | |
| Physician | |||
| Surgeon 01 | 2 | 2.3 | |
| Surgeon 02 | 20 | 23 | |
| Surgeon 03 | 64 | 74 | |
| Diagnosis group | |||
| Contusion | 4 | 4.6 | |
| Acute injuries | 2 | 2.3 | |
| Nonspecific arm pain | 10 | 12 | |
| Trigger finger | 7 | 8.1 | |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | 6 | 7.0 | |
| Ganglion | 22 | 26 | |
| Osteoarthritis | 6 | 7.0 | |
| Tendinitis | 8 | 9.0 | |
| Dupuytren | 5 | 5.8 | |
| Lateral epicondylosis | 6 | 7.0 | |
| Rotator cuff tendinosis | 4 | 4.6 | |
| Other | 6 | 7.0 | |
| Referred by | |||
| Patient self | 20 | 23 | |
| Primary care physician | 46 | 54 | |
| Other | 20 | 23 | |
| Hours spent on the Internet per week | |||
| 0 | 3 | 3.5 | |
| 1–5 | 27 | 31 | |
| 6–10 | 12 | 14 | |
| 11–15 | 7 | 8.1 | |
| 16+ | 38 | 44 | |
| Online medical research | |||
| Medical research in the past | 70 | 81 | |
| Medical research current condition | 39 | 45 | |