Table 2

Process of Care Outcomes at 6-Month Follow-up

OutcomePhase 1
(n = 368)
No. (%)
Phase 3
(n = 554)
No. (%)
Odds Ratio
(95% CI)
P
Valuea
Risk-appropriate referral to physical therapy
Not referred within the low-risk group89 (65)123 (68)1.12 (0.74–1.68).64
Referred within the medium-/high-risk groups93 (40)270 (72)2.36 (1.80–3.10)<.001
Reconsulted family physician88 (29)159 (38)1.51 (1.10–2.07).01
Prescribed medicationsb
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs136 (44)159 (38)0.76 (0.57–1.03).08
Antidepressants31 (10)42 (10)0.99 (0.61–1.61).96
Nonopioids66 (22)53 (13)0.53 (0.35–0.78).001
Opioids88 (29)201 (48)2.27 (1.66–3.11)<.001
Strongc73 (24)114 (27)1.19 (0.85–1.67).31
Weak only15 (5)87 (21)5.07 (2.87–8.97)<.001
Neuromodulators/antiepileptics18 (6)20 (5)0.80 (0.42–1.54).51
Issued a sickness certificate45 (15)40 (9)0.61 (0.39–0.96).03
Had diagnostic tests ordered
Blood test110 (36)154 (37)1.03 (0.76–1.40).84
MRI scan/radiograph47 (15)55 (13)0.83 (0.55–1.27).39
  • MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.

  • a Derived by χ2 test.

  • b Ascertained from British National Formulary codes: nonsteroidal drugs (10.1.1), antidepressants (4.3.1), nonopioids (4.7.1), opioids (4.7.2), and antiepileptics (4.8.1).

  • c Buprenorphine, butrans, co-codamol, codeine phosphate, DF Forte, Dtrans, fentanyl, kapake, matrifen, morphine, nabumetaone, oxycodone, oxycontin, OxyNorm, Palladone, pethidine, tramadol, trazodone, Zydol.