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Table 1 Preliminary list of potential baseline variables and constructs (based on Hayden, 2007 Appendix)[31]

From: Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain: protocol for an individual participant data meta-analysis

Baseline variable construct

Description/examples of potential measures

Individual subject characteristics

Age

Current age

Sex

Male, female

Body mass index (BMI) or height and weight

BMI or measured height and individual weight

Lifestyle factors

Recreational participation

Participation in sports activities or hobbies

Physical fitness

Physical fitness level

Smoking

Smoking habits

Alcohol consumption

Amount/frequency of drinking, how often drunk

Coffee consumption

Coffee consumed per day

Sociodemographic characteristics

Socio-economic status

Education status, income

Work characteristics

Employed, occupation

Social support

Marital status

Overall health

General health status

Perceived or self-rated health, general health question or Short Form-12, perceived energy level

Comorbidities

Presence and type of co-morbidities (for example, musculoskeletal pain other than LBP, respiratory or stomach problems, migraines, multiple pain sites)

Previous injuries

Previous sick leave (any cause or other than LBP), or accident

Receipt of compensation or litigation

Worker’s compensation; time off work; sick leave; benefits; pension

Receipt of worker’s compensation, duration of time off work, sick leave due to LBP, benefits paid, pension application applied for or intending to apply for

Attribution for LBP

Litigation, culpability for injury, job that caused pain, description of injury event

Previous low back pain (before the current episode)

Previous history of LBP

Report of prior LBP

 

Previous LBP treatment received (for example, injections, inpatient treatment, surgery)

 

Prior claim for LBP, LBP sick leave, worker’s compensation injury

 

Hospitalization due to LBP, previous lumbar spine radiography

Characteristics of the current LBP episode

Pain onset

Onset of injury (for example, sudden or gradual), injury event or none

Duration of complaint

LBP duration, time between injury and filing claim

Baseline LBP symptoms

Pain severity

Injury severity rating, presence of disabling pain, visual analogue scale, presence of pain at night, NRS; McGill scale

Functional limitations

Disability score (for example, RMDQ, Oswestry), assessment of functioning in leisure time

Change in symptoms

Symptoms getting worse or better

Baseline physical examination findings

Range of motion (ROM)

Change in ROM

Pain pattern (centralization)

Pain pattern/directional preference according to McKenzie method

Other examination findings

Summed physical exam, SLR, muscle palpation, gait, posture, walk test, ‘catch’, Waddell symptoms

Baseline neurological findings

Localization; nerve root; radiculopathy; pain on coughing

Localization of pain to low back only, presence of nerve root signs/symptoms, clinical impression of radiculopathy with SLR, pain on coughing

Subject psychological status

Depression

Rating scale of ‘feeling blue’, Beck Depression Inventory, GHQ depression scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

Other psychological diagnoses

For example, hysteria, somatic symptoms, hypochondriasis

Other psychological characteristics and behaviors

For example, self-esteem, pain behaviors, denial, state of anxiety, sleep problems, locus of control, fear avoidance beliefs, personality measures, active/passive coping mechanisms

LBP diagnosis received

Diagnostic categories

Specific diagnostic categories (for example, sprain/strain, disc herniation)

Understanding of symptoms

Patient’s understanding and accuracy of their symptoms

Subject expectations of recovery

Subjective work ability

Subjective work capacity in relation to complaint

Perceived ability to do job

Perceptions regarding ability to do job, expectations with injury

Psychosocial capacity to RTW

Psychosocial capacity to RTW, Worker Role Interview

Intent/expectations to RTW

Intent/expectations to return to job

Other baseline/LBP episode characteristics

  1. NRS: numeric rating scale.
  2. RMDQ: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire.
  3. SLR: straight leg raise.
  4. GHQ: general health questionnaire.
  5. RTW: return to work.