Table 1.

Characteristics of the Study Population at Baseline

CharacteristicUsual Care Group (n=60)Intervention Group (n=60)Total (N=120)
EQ-5D = EuroQol; WOMAC = Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index.
a Scored on a range from 0–100, with high values indicating more pain or lower physical functioning.
b Scored on a range from 0–10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst conceivable pain.
c Scored on a range from 0–1, where 0 = worst quality of life and 1 = best quality of life.
Age, mean (SD), y54.8 (14.7)57.7 (13.9)56 (14.3)
Women, n (%)48 (80)44 (73.3)92 (76.7)
Paid job, n (%)24 (40)26 (43.3)50 (41.7)
Body mass index, mean (SD)26.3 (3.6)26.9 (3.8)26.6 (3.7))
WOMAC pain, mean (SD)a52.4 (19.1)48.8 (16.1)50.6 (17.7)
WOMAC function, mean (SD)a49.2 (19.6)43.9 (17.0)47.0 (18.4)
Pain at rest, mean (SD)b5.33 (2.2)5.05 (2.2)5.19 (2.2)
Pain with activity, mean (SD)b6.63 (2.6)6.82 (1.9)6.73 (2.3)
Quality of life, EQ-5D,mean (SD)c0.72 (0.2)0.76 (0.2)0.74 (0.2)
Education level, n (%)
    Low (vocational)17 (28.3)22 (36.7)39 (32.5)
    Middle (secondary)33 (55)29 (48.3)62 (51.7)
    High (university)10 (16.7)9 (15)19 (15.8)
Duration of complaints, n (%)
    1–2 mo30 (50.8)27 (45.0)57 (47.9)
    2–6 mo14 (23.7)20 (33.3)34 (28.6)
    >6 mo15 (25.4)13 (21.7)28 (23.5)
Comorbidity, n (%)
    None25 (41.7)22 (36.7)47 (39.2)
    Low-back pain21 (35)22 (36.7)43 (35.8)
    Hip osteoarthritis8 (13.3)10 (16.7)18 (15)
    Low-back pain and hip osteoarthritis6 (10)6 (10)12 (10)