Table 1.
Baseline Participant Characteristics
| Characteristic | UC Group (n = 110) | EPT Group (n = 110) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean age (SD), y * | 37.9 (11.2) | 40.0 (11.2) |
| Female, n (%) * | 59 (53.6) | 48 (43.6) |
| Race, n (%) | ||
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 2 (1.8) | 5 (4.5) |
| African American or Black | 3 (2.7) | 1 (0.9) |
| Asian | 5 (4.5) | 2 (1.8) |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 1 (0.9) | 1 (0.9) |
| White | 89 (80.9) | 92 (83.6) |
| Other or multiracial | 7 (6.4) | 7 (6.4) |
| Not reported | 3 (2.7) | 2 (1.8) |
| Ethnicity, n (%) | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | 16 (14.5) | 14 (12.7) |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 84 (76.3) | 81 (73.6) |
| Not reported | 10 (9.0) | 15 (13.6) |
| Mean body mass index (SD), kg/m2 | 29.5 (7.9) | 29.5 (7.0) |
| Married/live with significant other, n (%) | 56 (50.9) | 59 (53.7) |
| Education (completed post–high school degree), n (%) | 52 (47.3) | 57 (52.3) |
| Employment (employed outside the home), n (%) | 87 (79.1) | 85 (77.3) |
| Comorbid health conditions, n (%)† | ||
| Diabetes | 4 (3.7) | 5 (4.6) |
| Hypertension | 9 (8.2) | 10 (9.1) |
| Anxiety | 25 (23.4) | 21 (19.3) |
| Depression | 24 (22.2) | 22 (20.2) |
| Upper back/neck pain | 26 (23.6) | 19 (17.3) |
| Current medication use for back pain, n (%)‡ | ||
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug | 60 (54.5) | 65 (59.1) |
| Opioids | 26 (23.6) | 24 (21.8) |
| Muscle relaxers | 23 (20.9) | 28 (25.4) |
| Oral steroid | 10 (9.1) | 17 (15.4) |
| Gabapentin | 9 (8.2) | 7 (6.4) |
| Imaging procedures for current back pain episode, n (%)§ | ||
| Radiography | 42 (38.2) | 47 (42.7) |
| Advanced imaging (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan) | 19 (17.3) | 20 (18.2) |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 15 (13.6) | 9 (8.3) |
| Previous nonfusion back surgery, n (%) | 4 (3.7) | 6 (5.5) |
| Mean duration of current back pain symptoms (SD), d* | 35.9 (26.8) | 35.8 (25.6) |
| STarT Back Screening Tool category, n (%) | ||
| High | 28 (25.5) | 26 (23.6) |
| Medium | 63 (56.4) | 68 (61.8) |
| Low | 19 (17.3) | 16 (14.5) |
| Mean Oswestry Disability Index score (SD) | 35.8 (15.8) | 38.9 (13.8) |
| Mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale score (back pain intensity) (SD)‖ | 4.8 (1.9) | 5.1 (1.8) |
| Mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale score (leg pain intensity) (SD)*‖ | 3.8 (2.2) | 4.3 (2.2) |
| Mean Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire score (SD) | ||
| Physical activity subscale* | 14.0 (5.9) | 15.2 (5.7) |
| Work subscale* | 13.9 (11.8) | 15.4 (12.3) |
| Mean Pain Catastrophizing Scale score (SD)* | 19.0 (11.9) | 20.9 (12.6) |
| Mean EQ-5D score (SD)¶ | ||
| Quality of life | 0.64 (0.2) | 0.64 (0.2) |
| Overall health self-rating* | 54.9 (20.3) | 57.7 (19.1) |
EPT = early physical therapy; EQ-5D = EuroQol 5-dimension; UC = usual care.
Missing baseline scores; sex (n = 1 EPT), age (n = 1 UC), duration of symptoms (n = 1 UC), Numeric Pain Rating Scale–leg pain intensity (n = 1 EPT), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (n = 3 EPT, n = 2 UC), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire physical activity subscale (n = 1 UC) and work subscale (n = 4 EPT, n = 1 UC), and EQ-5D overall health rating (n = 6 EPT, n = 3 UC).
Comorbid conditions based on participants’ self-report that they either have, or are receiving treatment for, the condition.
Medication use based on participants’ report that the medication has been prescribed to them and they are taking the medication either regularly or as needed for back pain. For nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, over-the-counter use is included.
Imaging use since the beginning of the current episode based on participants’ self-report.
Pain intensity assessed on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale, with 0 indicating “no pain at all” and 10 “worst imaginable pain.”
The EQ-5D score is based on U.S. valuations ranging from 0.0 to 1.0, with higher scores indicating greater quality of life. The EQ-5D overall health self-rating ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating greater self-rated overall health.