Table 1.
Baseline Characteristicsa
Characteristic Patient Education (n = 101) Placebo Patient Education (n = 101) Age, mean (SD), y 46.5 (14.7) 43.8 (14.1) Female sex 53 (52.5) 50 (49.5) Clinical characteristic Pain duration, mean (SD), d 12.5 (7.7) 13.5 (8.7) No. of previous episodes, median (IQR) 3 (5) 3 (7) No. of other pain sites, mean (SD) 1.0 (1.2) 1.1 (1.3) Referred by general practitioner 19 (18.8) 16 (15.8) Referred by physiotherapist 82 (81.2) 85 (84.2) First episode of back pain 21 (20.8) 18 (17.8) Pain referred to leg 47 (46.5) 57 (56.4) Pain in areas other than back or leg 57 (56.4) 55 (54.5) Work absence or reduced hours 22 (21.8) 31 (30.7) Receiving pain medication 50 (49.5) 54 (53.5) Outcome scores at baseline Pain intensity, mean (SD)b Week 6.3 (2.4) 6.1 (2.2) Current 4.0 (2.2) 4.0 (2.3) Pain interference, mean (SD)c 6.0 (2.5) 6.4 (2.6) Disability, mean (SD)d 11.0 (5.4) 11.7 (5.8) Depressive symptoms, mean (SD)e 4.1 (3.7) 5.1 (5.0) Reassurance Nothing seriously wrong, mean (SD)f 5.6 (2.7) 5.4 (2.7) Yes, perceive a need for further tests 51 (50.5) 55 (54.5) Process measures at baseline, mean (SD) Neuroscience knowledgeg 6.0 (1.8) 5.9 (1.6) Pain attitudes: pain is sign of damageh 2.3 (1.2) 2.5 (1.1) Pain self-efficacyi 35.5 (13.1) 33.1 (13.0) Catastrophizingj 18.3 (12.0) 19.9 (11.2) Back beliefsk 27.7 (6.8) 28.3 (6.4) Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range.
a Data are presented as number (percentage) of patients unless otherwise indicated.
b Numeric rating scale with range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain possible).
c Numeric rating scale with range from 0 (no interference) to 10 (highest interference possible).
d Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire with range from 0 (no disability) to 24 (high disability).
e Depression severity scale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with range from 0 (no depressive symptoms) to 42 (high depressive symptoms).
f“ How reassured do you feel that there is no serious condition causing your back pain?” Range from 0 (not reassured at all) to 10 (completely reassured).
g Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire with range from 0 (no knowledge) to 19 (highest knowledge).
h Survey of Pain Attitudes, question 3 from 1-item version: “The pain I feel is a sign that damage is being done.” Range from 0 (very untrue for me) to 4 (very true for me).
i Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire with range from 0 (low pain self-efficacy) to 60 (high pain self-efficacy).
j Pain Catastrophizing Scale with range from 0 (low catastrophizing) to 52 (high catastrophizing).
k Back Beliefs Questionnaire with range from 9 (maladaptive or pessimistic beliefs) to 45 (helpful or positive beliefs).