Table 5.
Compliance by comorbidities, medical record data
| Indicator | Overall Compliance % (95% CI) | LBP Only (%) | 1–2 comor-bidities (%) | 3 or more comor-bidities (%) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical history documented at presentation | 94 (92–96) | 96.9 | 90.1 | 87.2 | < 0.001* |
| Physical examination performed and documented at presentation | 87% (84–90) | 95.0 | 76.5 | 64.4 | < 0.001* |
| Assessed for spine fractures (trauma, history of previous fracture, prolonged use of steroids) | 81% (77–84) | 86.1 | 71.2 | 75.0 | < 0.001* |
| Assessed for cancer (history of cancer, unexplained weight loss, immunosuppression) | 75% (71–79) | 81.2 | 64.9 | 65.8 | < 0.001* |
| Assessed for infection (fever, IV drug use) | 41% (37–46) | 48.8 | 26.5 | 34.9 | < 0.001* |
| Neurological examination performed – (strength, sensation and reflexes in lower limbs) | 63% (58–67) | 66.9 | 55.9 | 43.9 | < 0.001* |
| Assessed for cauda equina syndrome | 50% (45–54) | 53.2 | 49.8 | 31.8 | < 0.001* |
| NOT prescribed any of the following medications: dexamethasone, other oral steroids, colchicine or antidepressants | 83% (75–92) | 97.1 | 83.9 | 67.6 | 0.005* |
| DID NOT receive any of the following treatments: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), lumbar corsets and support belts, spinal traction | 94% (89–99) | 95.0 | 93.4 | 94.4 | 0.933 |
| NOT advised to rest in bed. | 98% (89–100) | 100.0 | 100.0 | 91.4 | 0.003* |
Legend: * = statistically significant difference, p < 0.05, LBP low back pain