Table 3.
Mean (SD) change in SF-36 domain scores at 2, 6 and 12 months from baseline for patients receiving physiotherapy or advice only for low back pain, with missing data replaced using last value carried forward
|
Therapy group (n=144)
|
Advice only group (n=142)
|
P value*
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | Mean (SD) change | Effect size | Mean (SD) change | Effect size | Mean difference (95% CI) | Analysis of covariance† | Repeated measures analysis of covariance† |
| Physical function: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
5.24 (19.99)
|
0.27
|
1.70 (16.10)
|
0.07
|
3.55 (−0.52 to 7.61)
|
0.09 (0.037)
|
0.06 |
| 6 months
|
5.43 (18.80)
|
0.28
|
2.77 (17.07)
|
0.12
|
2.66 (−1.53 to 6.86)
|
0.21 (0.098)
|
|
| 12 months | 5.98 (20.98) | 0.31 | 3.22 (18.87) | 0.14 | 2.76 (−1.91 to 7.42) | 0.25 (0.095) | |
| Role physical: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
14.99 (39.35)
|
0.37
|
10.80 (35.77)
|
0.27
|
4.19 (−4.57 to 12.9)
|
0.35 (0.60)
|
0.97 |
| 6 months
|
15.91 (46.41)
|
0.39
|
14.26 (38.87)
|
0.36
|
1.65 (−8.31 to 11.6)
|
0.74 (0.97)
|
|
| 12 months | 13.89 (45.11) | 0.34 | 13.20 (42.70) | 0.33 | 0.68 (−9.54 to 10.9) | 0.90 (0.83) | |
| Bodily pain: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
9.70 (20.53)
|
0.54
|
7.47 (19.33)
|
0.37
|
2.22 (−2.41 to 6.87)
|
0.35 (0.39)
|
0.16 |
| 6 months
|
13.35 (22.88)
|
0.74
|
10.49 (21.78)
|
0.51
|
2.86 (−2.34 to 8.06)
|
0.28 (0.37)
|
|
| 12 months | 16.79 (24.34) | 0.93 | 10.63 (24.70) | 0.52 | 6.16 (0.45 to 11.9) | 0.035 (0.057) | |
| General health: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
−0.15 (14.23)
|
0.01
|
−0.24 (12.76)
|
0.01
|
0.09 (−3.05 to 3.24)
|
0.95 (0.73)
|
0.39 |
| 6 months
|
−1.36 (16.01)
|
0.07
|
0.06 (13.97)
|
0.00
|
−1.42 (−4.92 to 2.08)
|
0.43 (0.16)
|
|
| 12 months | −1.66 (15.92) | 0.09 | −1.35 (17.05) | 0.07 | −0.31 (−4.15 to 3.53) | 0.87 (0.62) | |
| Vitality: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
2.01 (16.26)
|
0.11
|
0.62 (13.74)
|
0.04
|
1.39 (−2.11 to 4.90)
|
0.44 (0.30)
|
0.57 |
| 6 months
|
1.77 (17.87)
|
0.09
|
1.17 (13.30)
|
0.07
|
0.60 (−3.07 to 4.26)
|
0.75 (0.72)
|
|
| 12 months | 2.55 (17.85) | 0.13 | 1.09 (15.26) | 0.06 | 1.45 (−2.41 to 5.32) | 0.46 (0.43) | |
| Social functioning: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
6.25 (22.08)
|
0.24
|
1.67 (19.54)
|
0.07
|
4.58 (−0.17 to 9.43)
|
0.06 (0.24)
|
0.28 |
| 6 months
|
8.51 (25.16)
|
0.33
|
2.64 (20.02)
|
0.12
|
5.87 (0.58 to 11.2)
|
0.03 (0.12)
|
|
| 12 months | 5.90 (25.13) | 0.23 | 2.64 (23.39) | 0.12 | 3.26 (−2.39 to 8.91) | 0.26 (0.67) | |
| Role emotional: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
6.53 (39.61)
|
0.17
|
1.41 (36.57)
|
0.04
|
5.12 (−3.77 to 14.0)
|
0.26 (0.36)
|
0.21 |
| 6 months
|
3.03 (36.02)
|
0.08
|
−0.94 (41.63)
|
0.02
|
3.97 (−5.11 to 13.0)
|
0.39 (0.46)
|
|
| 12 months | 5.36 (40.66) | 0.14 | −3.29 (40.93) | 0.09 | 8.65 (−0.87 to 18.2) | 0.08 (0.065) | |
| Mental health: | |||||||
| 2 months
|
2.46 (13.17)
|
0.15
|
−2.45 (13.67)
|
0.15
|
4.91 (1.79 to 8.06)
|
0.002 (0.006)
|
0.10 |
| 6 months
|
1.15 (14.46)
|
0.07
|
−1.41 (14.88)
|
0.09
|
2.55 (−0.86 to 5.97)
|
0.14 (0.22)
|
|
| 12 months | 0.64 (15.89) | 0.04 | −1.55 (16.56) | 0.10 | 2.19 (−1.59 to 5.97) | 0.26 (0.25) | |
*
t test.
†
Adjusted for baseline score, age, sex, smoking status, and time since first episode of back pain.