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Table 3 Patient agreement with core guideline recommendations for management of low back pain, weighted percentages (n = 977)

From: Concordance of patient beliefs and expectations regarding the management of low back pain with guideline recommendations – a cross-sectional study in Germany

Adaptation of statement based on core recommendations from the national guideline for patients

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Do not know

If I have low back pain that is judged to be of no serious concern after medical examination, I am willing to refrain from further examination (n, %) a

333 (36.3)

278 (30.7)

118 (12.5)

55 (4.9)

172 (13.9)

If I have acute low back pain, without weakness or loss of sensation (prickle, numbness) in one leg, I expect imaging (x-ray, CT, MRI) (n, %) b

181 (18.0)

220 (22.2)

231 (26.1)

171 (18.4)

159 (14.0)

If I have low back pain, I expect a prescription for massages (n, %) c

267 (25.6)

394 (44.2)

139 (14.2)

75 (7.6)

89 (7.5)

If I have low back pain, I expect injection therapy (n, %) d

146 (13.2)

300 (31.3)

265 (29.4)

130 (14.1)

121 (10.5)

If I have acute low back pain (less than 6 weeks in duration), I expect a referral for physiotherapy (n, %) e

255 (25.4)

345 (38.1)

146 (16.3)

103 (9.7)

113 (9.5)

If I have low back pain, I should continue my everyday activities as much as possible (n, %) f

227 (22.4)

409 (43.7)

147 (16.4)

72 (7.2)

108 (9.3)

There is no effective treatment for low back pain (n, %) g

39 (3.2)

87 (8.2)

231 (25.2)

273 (30.6)

325 (31.1)

  1. a missing = 21 (1.7%), b missing = 15 (1.4%), c missing = 13 (1.0%), d missing = 15 (1.6%), e missing = 15 (1.1), f missing = 14 (1.4%), g missing = 22 (1.7%)