Fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with exercise adherence: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) among female healthcare workers with recurrent low back pain

Table 3 Baseline variables of the participants (randomised to the exercise group) by exercise adherence status

	Compliers (≥24 exercise sessions), n = 58			Non-compliers (0–23 exercise sessions), n = 52			Miss-ing	p-value
	Mean (SD)	n	%	Mean (SD)	n	%	Miss-ing	p-value
Running figure-of-eight; seconds	7.7 (1.0)			8.0 (1.2)			9	0.20
One-legged squat; (0–12 reps)	9.9 (2.3)			8.9 (2.9)			2	0.043
6MWT; metres	623.0 (43.8)			603.4 (56.2)			–	0.048
Quality of life
Physical functioning (0–100)	87.3(11.1)			83.4 (13.4)			4	0.17
General health (0–100) *	70.2(16.4)			64.5 (17.5)			4	0.08
Workability index (3–27)	22.2 (2.6)			21.9 (2.9)				0.20
PHQ-9 (0–27)	7.4 (4.5)			8.5 (5.3)			1	0.29
Musculoskeletal exertion (7–35) *	12.2 (3.8)			13.5(4.0)			2	0.10
FABs total (0–78)	23.2 (12.9)			27.3(14.5)			7	0.07
FAB-PA; (0–30)	12.6(6.9)			15.4 (6.4)			1	0.019
LBP intensity; (VAS 0–100)	36.9 (19.9)			35.9 (19.9)			1	0.79
Education level							–	0.026
low (secondary school or less)		14	24.1		23	44.2
medium or high		44	75.9		29	55.8
Work type							–	0.023
regular work		24	41.4		11	21.2
shift work		34	58.6		41	78.8
Profession							–	0.052
assistant nurse		18	31.0		25	48.1
nurse		31	53.4		25	48.1
other (radiographer, PT, midwife)		9	15.5		2	3.8
Sub-study							–	0.042
Sub-study I		9	15.5		18	34.6
Sub-study II		22	37.9		19	36.5
Sub-study III		27	46.6		15	28.8
Perceived health in comparison to others of the same age and sex; °							–	0.14
moderate		20	34.5		25	48.1
good or very good		38	65.5		27	51.8
Frequency of LBP; °							8	0.12
on some days of the week		21	38		25	54
on most days		26	46		12	26
daily		9	16		9	20

*normal distribution, independent samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, ° χ² test. FAB-PA physical activity-related fear-avoidance beliefs, LBP low back pain, PHQ-9 Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire measuring depression, PT physical therapist, VAS visual analogue scale of 0–100 during the past 4 weeks

ISSN: 2052-1847