Table 6

Hierarchical regression analysis of predictors of the number of physical therapy treatment sessions in patients with non-specific LBP (n = 1,733)



B
(SE)

Intercept
9.300
(1.28)




Patient level


Age (years)
***0.04
(0.01)
Female (ref. Male)
***1.90
(0.42)
Education level:
Middle (ref. low)
0.62
(0.40)

High (ref. low)
-0.76
(0.52)

Unknown (ref. low)
-0.28
(0.42)
Health insurance:
Private (ref. public)
*-0.84
(0.38)

Unknown (ref. public)
0.34
(0.42)
High urbanization rate (ref. low)
0.10
(0.53)




Complaint level


Chronic complaints (ref. acute)
***2.27
(0.44)
Female*chronic complaints
**-1.79
(0.59)
Recurrent complaint (ref. no)
-0.34
(0.34)
Previous therapy (ref. no)
***1.17
(0.35)
Referral by medical specialist (ref. GP)
***4.18
(0.77)




Treatment level


Treatment goal
Maintaining body position
0.09
(0.49)

Changing body position
0.31
(0.46)

Functions of mobility
0.08
(0.43)

Functions of muscles
0.32
(0.51)

Pain
1.23
(0.64)
Interventions
Massage
0.71
(0.37)

Manual manipulation
-0.38
(0.36)

Physical modalities
*1.13
(0.48)

Exercise therapy
**1.03
(0.35)

Information/advice
-0.33
(0.38)




Therapist and practice level


Female (ref. male)
*-1.23
(0.57)
Aged > 45 years (ref. < 45 years)
***-2.01
(0.51)
Manual therapist (ref. no)
*-1.44
(0.60)
Patient-related working hours per week
20–40 (ref. < 20)
-0.48
(0.61)

> 40 (ref. < 20)
*1.80
(0.87)
Additional training in LBP (ref. no)
**-1.47
(0.51)
Additional training in LBP guideline (ref. no)
0.39
(0.47)
Feasibility LBP guideline
> 7 (ref. < 7)
0.09
(0.48)

Unknown (ref. < 7)
-0.31
(0.65)
Number of LBP patients per therapist per month
-0.14
(0.18)
Group practice (ref. single-handed)
0.14
(0.80)




Deviance
11,106.46

* = P < 0.05; ** = P < 0.01; *** = P < 0.001

Swinkels et al. BMC Health Services Research 2005 5:74   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-5-74