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Table 2 Demographics and low back pain characteristics of study participants

From: Concordance of patient beliefs and expectations regarding the management of low back pain with guideline recommendations – a cross-sectional study in Germany

Characteristic

All participants

Participants with current low back pain

Age (median, Q1; Q3) a

57 (40; 67) a

58 (48; 68) d

Male (n, %)

381/974 (39.1)

76/211 (36)

Education (n, %)

 < 10 years of school

198/961 (20.6)

55/207 (26.6)

 10 years of school

519/961 (54.0)

110/207 (53.1)

 > 10 years of school

244/961 (25.4)

42/207 (20.3)

Self-assessed health status, n (%) b

 Excellent

23/954 (3.3)

1/208 (0.3)

 Very good

126/954 (17.2)

13/208 (9.3)

 Good

527/954 (54.6)

85/208 (44.8)

 Fair

234/954 (21.0)

86/208 (35.6)

 Poor

44/954 (4.0)

23/208 (10.0)

Low back pain (n, %) b

 Currently experiencing low back pain

211/960 (20.6)

 Low back pain in the last 12 months

501/960 (54.8)

 Low back pain not in the last 12 months

248/960 (24.6)

Only participants with current low back pain or during the last 12 months (n = 712)

 Presenting at the GP for low back pain (n, %) b

96/690 (12.5)

71/203 (33.8)

 Low back pain on a 10-point scale in the last 12 months b

 Median (Q1; Q3)

5.0 (3; 6) e

5.0 (4; 7) f

  • Mild (0–5)

439/687 (64.7)

103/203 (54.5)

  • Moderate (6, 7)

162/687 (22.9)

56/203 (26.1)

  • Severe (8–10)

86/687 (12.4)

44/203 (19.5)

 Analgesics for low back pain in the last 12 months (n, %) b

406/712 (56.7)

157/211 (73.9)

 Interference of daily activity on a 10-point scale in the last 12 months (median, Q1; Q3)

4.0 (3; 6) c

5.0 (3; 7) g

 Imaging for low back pain in the last 12 months (n, %) b

194/705 (25.1)

88/207 (39.6)

Surgery for LBP (n, %) b

61/968 (4.7)

25/210 (9.6)

Injection therapy (n, %) b

472 /961 (43.9)

148/2010 (65.9)

  1. a missing = 4, b weighted percentage, c missing = 42, d missing = 2, e missing = 25, f missing = 8, g missing = 7
  2. Q1 First quartile, Q3 Third quartile