Table 4

 Results of the conventional and hierarchical analyses for the effect of the physical, psychosocial, and time related factors on incident LBP/D

Conventional model RR (95%CI)*Hierarchical model RR (95%CI)
*RR, relative risk; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.
†pw = per week; ‡ct = centile of distribution; §() = actual value.
RRs (and 95% CI) are presented for the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th centile of the distribution in reference to the 10th centile.
Physical factors
Trunk flexion between 20° and 45°2 hours pw†1 reference1 reference
3 hours pw0.83 (0.33 to 2.09)0.95 (0.53 to 1.72)
4 hours pw0.70 (0.12 to 4.20)0.90 (0.28 to 2.87)
5 hours pw0.60 (0.08 to 4.57)0.83 (0.22 to 3.18)
6 hours pw0.50 (0.07 to 3.72)0.80 (0.19 to 3.32)
Trunk flexion over 45°30 minutes pw1 reference1 reference
45 minutes pw1.56 (0.91 to 2.68)1.31 (1.03 to 1.65)
1 hour pw2.44 (0.83 to 7.16)1.71 (1.08 to 2.72)
1 hour 30 minutes pw6.49 (1.28 to 32.98)2.82 (1.16 to 6.86)
1 hour 45 minutes pw9.82 (2.05 to 47.10)3.18 (1.13 to 9.00)
Lifting and carrying loads over 10 kg1 minute pw1 reference1 reference
5 minutes pw1.02 (0.77 to 1.35)1.05 (0.94 to 1.17)
15 minutes pw1.08 (0.39 to 2.99)1.18 (0.79 to 1.77)
30 minutes pw0.71 (0.23 to 2.28)1.33 (0.60 to 2.95)
45 minutes pw1.03 (0.25 to 4.25)1.26 (0.38 to 4.20)
Psychosocial factors
Decision authority10 ct‡ (13.3)§1 reference1 reference
25 ct (27.7)1.10 (0.66 to 1.86)1.07 (0.64 to 1.78)
50 ct (41.2)1.22 (0.45 to 3.32)1.13 (0.42 to 3.04)
75 ct (54.5)1.55 (0.56 to 4.34)1.50 (0.55 to 4.14)
90 ct (66.7)0.77 (0.21 to 2.82)0.76 (0.21 to 2.72)
Skill discretion10 ct (16.0)1 reference1 reference
25 ct (27.8)1.08 (0.62 to 1.88)1.10 (0.63 to 1.89)
50 ct (40.0)1.19 (0.44 to 3.26)1.22 (0.45 to 3.31)
75 ct (55.6)1.41 (0.51 to 3.90)1.44 (0.53 to 3.91)
90 ct (66.7)1.05 (0.36 to 3.09)1.09 (0.38 to 3.16)
Work demands10 ct (27.0)1 reference1 reference
25 ct (33.3)0.84 (0.60 to 1.19)0.86 (0.61 to 1.21)
50 ct (45.5)0.72 (0.32 to 1.67)0.75 (0.33 to 1.73)
75 ct (57.6)1.48 (0.65 to 3.36)1.41 (0.63 to 3.18)
90 ct (66.7)1.59 (0.65 to 3.90)1.45 (0.60 to 3.53)
Time related factors
Age25 years1 reference1 reference
30 years1.03 (0.74 to 1.43)1.01 (0.73 to 1.40)
40 years1.09 (0.40 to 2.93)1.03 (0.39 to 2.74)
50 years1.66 (0.56 to 4.93)1.49 (0.52 to 4.25)
55 years1.81 (0.59 to 5.53)1.68 (0.57 to 4.90)
Years in service1 year1 reference1 reference
5 years0.69 (0.33 to 1.45)0.70 (0.35 to 1.41)
10 years0.47 (0.19 to 1.17)0.45 (0.19 to 1.09)
15 years0.37 (0.12 to 1.09)0.34 (0.12 to 1.01)
20 years0.33 (0.11 to 1.03)0.32 (0.11 to 1.00)