Table 2

Multinomial regression analyses; multivariate associations between patient characteristics and choice of healthcare provider (dependent variable)*

GP (n=127)PT (n=130)
OR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P value
Block (1) Sociodemographic variables
Age1.03 (0.99 to 1.07)0.111.04 (1.00 to 1.08) 0.03
Gender
 Female1.53 (0.96 to 2.45)0.071.33 (0.83 to 2.12)0.24
 Male (ref.)1.001.00
Marital status
 Married/cohabiting0.67 (0.38 to 1.19)0.170.90 (0.51 to 1.61)0.73
 Not married/cohabiting (ref.)1.001.00
Educational level
 Higher education1.02 (0.64 to 1.62)0.941.08 (0.68 to 1.73)0.73
 Lower education (ref.)1.001.00
Employment status
 Currently in paid work0.86 (0.46 to 1.62)0.640.55 (0.30 to 1.01)0.05
 No paid work (ref.)1.001.00
Block (2) General health variables
Hazardous alcohol intake (AUDIT-C)
 Yes1.20 (0.73 to 1.97)0.471.08 (0.64 to 1.81)0.77
 No (ref.)1.001.00
Smoking status
 Yes1.18 (0.56 to 2.46)0.670.64 (0.28 to 1.48)0.29
 Previously1.31 (0.77 to 2.23)0.321.11 (0.67 to 1.83)0.70
 No (ref.)1.001.00
Health-related quality of life (SF-36, 0–100)
 Physical component0.96 (0.93 to 1.00) 0.03 0.98 (0.95 to 1.01)0.19
 Mental component0.97 (0.95 to 1.00) 0.02 1.01 (0.98 to 1.03)0.73
 BMI0.98 (0.93 to 1.04)0.530.97 (0.92 to 1.02)0.28
 Comorbidities (SCQ, 0–15)1.07 (0.86 to 1.33)0.531.15 (0.95 to 1.40)0.17
Widespread pain
 Yes0.22 (0.06 to 0.81) 0.02 0.46 (0.18 to 1.16)0.10
 No (ref.)1.001.00
 Falls self-efficacy (FES-I, 16–64)1.00 (0.95 to 1.05)0.981.03 (0.95 to 1.05)0.32
Block (3) Current back pain and back pain history variables
 Back pain severity (NRS, 0–10)1.02 (0.91 to 1.14)0.770.90 (0.80 to 1.01)0.08
 Back-related disability (RMDQ, 0–24)1.06 (1.00 to 1.12) 0.04 1.07 (1.01 to 1.13) 0.02
Duration
 Over 3 months2.92 (1.28 to 6.66) 0.01 4.57 (1.99 to 10.50) <0.01
 6 weeks to 3 months3.03 (1.27 to 4.97) 0.02 3.17 (1.28 to 7.84) 0.01
 0–6 weeks (ref.)1.001.00
Morning stiffness
 Significant or extreme0.76 (0.41 to 1.42)0.391.21 (0.64 to 2.30)0.55
 Moderate1.37 (0.74 to 2.56)0.322.03 (1.08 to 3.81) 0.03
 A little or none (ref.)1.001.00
Sleep problems attributable to back pain
 Weekly1.09 (0.63 to 1.89)0.760.75 (0.41 to 1.35)0.33
 Less than weekly (ref.)1.001.00
Previous back pain frequency
 Yearly1.11 (0.65 to 1.92)0.701.00 (0.59 to 1.69)0.99
 Not yearly (ref.)1.001.00
Block (4) Psychological variables
 Fear-avoidance (FABQ-PA, 0–24)1.02 (0.98 to 1.07)0.321.03 (0.98 to 1.08)0.22
 Pain catastrophising (PCS, 0–52)1.04 (1.00 to 1.07)0.051.06 (1.02 to 1.10) <0.01
 Depression symptoms (CES-D, 0–60)0.99 (0.95 to 1.03)0.530.99 (0.96 to 1.03)0.61
 Back beliefs (BBQ, 9–45)0.97 (0.93 to 1.02)0.230.99 (0.95 to 1.03)0.67
Expectation for back pain in 3 months
 Recovered0.26 (0.12 to 0.56) <0.01 0.39 (0.19 to 0.79) 0.01
 Much better0.65 (0.35 to 1.19)0.160.85 (0.46 to 1.58)0.61
 No change or worse (ref.)1.001.00
Start Back Screening tool risk category
 Medium+high risk1.02 (0.55 to 1.87)0.950.49 (0.26 to 0.92) 0.03
 Low risk (ref.)1.001.00
Block (5) Clinical variables
No of red flags (0–12)1.25 (0.99 to 1.58)0.061.19 (0.96 to 1.48)0.12
Diagnostic tool for radiculopathy
 Positive1.94 (1.08 to 3.47) 0.03 1.52 (0.85 to 2.73)0.16
 Negative (ref.)1.001.00
Pain on active range of motion
 Yes0.95 (0.57 to 1.58)0.851.09 (0.67 to 1.80)0.72
 No (ref.)1.001.00
Trunk mobility performance (BPS, 0–18)1.16 (1.08 to 1.24) <0.01 1.07 (1.00 to 1.15) 0.04
Timed-Up-and-Go, mean seconds0.93 (0.83 to 1.04)0.201.00 (0.90 to 1.11)0.93

The ORs for continuous variables represent the change in odds with a one-unit increase in the continuous variable.

The chiropractic group (n=195) was the reference dependent variable.

Models were built block-wise within the five blocks: (1) sociodemographic (2) general health (3) current episode and back pain history (4) psychological and (5) clinical. All variables were included simultaneously.

Bold p-values identify associations that are statistically significant.

*The multinomial regression analyses are based on pooled estimates from multiple regression analyses.

AUDIT-C, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - Consumption questions; BBQ, Back Beliefs Questionnaire; BMI, body mass index; BPS, Back Performance Scale; CES-D, Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression; FABQ-PA, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity subscale; FES-I, Falls Self-Efficacy Scale-International; GP, general practitioner; NRS, Numeric Rating Scale; PCS, Pain Catastrophising Scale; PT, physiotherapist; ref, reference category; RMDQ, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire; SCQ, Self-administered Comorbidity Questionnaire; SF-36, Short Form Health Survey 36 Item.