Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the study population

Number (percent)Mean (SD) Median (IQR)Missing count (percent)
Patients characteristics
Sex0 (0)
1=Male206 (34.2)
2=Female397 (65.8)
Age44,5 (15.7)1 (0.2)
44,0 (31–56)
Symptoms
Pain intensity at baseline (0–10)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of pain.		5,9 (1.9)
6 (5–7)		0 (0)
Duration of neck pain4.5 (2.9)0 (0)
Number of weeks4 (2–6)
Recurrent pain1 (0.2)
1=No198 (32.8)
2=Yes404 (67)
Reported pain in different body regions4 (0.7)
1=No210 (34.8)
2=Yes389 (64.5)
Accompanying headache5 (0.8)
1=No247 (41)
2=Yes281 (46.6)
3=I had headache(s) before the neck pain.70 (11.6)
Disability (0–7)
Higher scores indicate higher interference of pain with daily activity. The sum score divided by the entered items.		2.73 (2.1)
2.3 (1.0–4.1)		1 (0.2)
Work related factors
Work status10 (1.7)
1=Yes501 (83.1)
2=No92 (15.3)
Education16 (2.7)
0=Low level of education313 (51.9)
1=High level of eduction274 (45.4)
Happiness at work23 (3.8)
1=Happy (ref)376 (62.4)
2=Neutral or not happy112 (18.6)
3=Not working92 (19)
Job satisfaction21 (3.5)
1=Satisfied (ref)404 (67)
2=Neutral or not satisfied86 (14.3)
3=Not working92 (18.7)
Potential to self-modify posture25 (4.2)
1=Possible (ref)372 (61.7)
2=Neutral or impossible114 (18.9)
3=Not working92 (19.4)
General factors
Physical activity8 (1.3)
0=Achieving the Dutch Healthy Exercise Norm219 (36.3)
1=Not achieving the Dutch Healthy Exercise Norm376 (62.3)
Smoking3 (0.5)
1=No528 (87.6)
2=Yes72 (11.9)
Alcohol5 (0.8)
1=No129 (21.4)
2=Yes469 (77.8)
Body mass index (BMI)25.31 (4.3)
24.66 (22.5–27.7)
Sleep quality2 (0.3)
0=No negative experience with sleeping130 (21.6)
1=Negative experience with sleeping471 (78.1)
Psychological and behaviour factors
Catastrophising (0–24)
Higher scores indicate more catastrophic thoughts		4.58 (4.6)
3 (1–7)		3 (0.5)
Illness beliefs about recovery (Duration 0–10)
0 a very short time–10 forever. Higher scores indicate a maladaptive illness perception		4.13 (2.7)
3 (2–6)		10 (1.7)
Illness beliefs about recovery (Concerned 0–10)
0 not at all concerned–10 extremely concerned. Higher scores indicate a maladaptive illness perception.		3.96 (2.6)
4 (2–6)		8 (1.3)
Treatment beliefs (0–10)
0 not at all–10 extremely helpful. A lower score indicates a maladaptive illness perception.		7.82 (1.9)
8 (7–9)		12 (2.0)
Depression (0–21)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of depression.		2.47 (3.3)
1 (0–4)		3 (0.5)
Kinesiophobia (11–44)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of kinesiophobia.		16.5 (5.2)
15 (12–20)		3 (0.5)
Distress (0–21)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of stress.		4.4 (4.1)
3 (1–7)		3 (0.5)
Coping5 (0.8)
0=Passive coping120 (19.9)
1=Active coping478 (79.3)
Illness beliefs about pain identity (0–10)
0 don’t understand at all—10 understand very clearly. A lower score indicates a maladaptive illness perception.		6.11 (2.3)
6 (5–8)		14 (2.3)
Hypervigilance (0–80)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of vigilance.		31.0 (11.4)
31 (23–38)		3 (0.5)
Self-efficacy (0–12)
Higher scores indicate a higher degree of self-efficacy.		10.31 (2.3)
11 (10–12)		2 (0.3)
Remaining factors
Therapeutic relation (0–10)
0 no trust at all–10 very much confidence.		8.79 (1.4)
9 (8–10)		10 (1.7)
Healthcare provider attitude49 (8.1)*
1=Biomedical134 (22.2)
2=Biopsychosocial420 (69.7)

  • *We missed the attitude measurement for 14 of the 94 physiotherapists, including a total of 49 patients.