Table 5

Factors that predicted sick leaves longer than eight weeks attributed to LBP during the 12 months prior to the 15 month follow up

CharacteristicsOdds ratio (95% CI)
The final equation in a forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, with likelihood ratio test used as the criterion for determining variables to be removed from the model. n = 2929.
The overall rate of correct classification of the dependent variable (predicted outcome compared with the observed outcome) was estimated as 96.62%.
The factors not retained in the final equation were age, gender, having ever changed work or work tasks because of pain, level of affective symptoms, sleep complaints, fatigue, widespread pain, long term health problems of any kind, frequency of lifting and supporting patients manually between bed and chair, quantitative work demands, level of influence on decisions at work, level of control over work pace, level of role conflicts at work, fairness of the immediate superior’s leadership, the extent of suspicious culture in the work unit, and exposure to bullying at work.
Lifting, carrying, and pushing heavy objects at work (per average shift)
    01.00
    1–40.99 (0.59 to 1.64)
    5–92.21 (1.17 to 4.16)
    ⩾102.20 (0.94 to 5.10)
Change of work or work tasks between baseline and the follow up that resulted in reduced support and encouragement at work
    No1.00
    Yes4.14 (1.68 to 10.24)
LBP previous 3 months
    No1.00
    Yes2.08 (1.32 to 3.28)
Intensity of musculoskeletal pain (any)
    No1.00
    A little1.98 (0.69 to 5.73)
    Rather intense3.32 (1.15 to 9.63)
    Very intense4.24 (1.38 to 12.97)