Table 2

Group-level risk factors that were analysed

VariableClassification
Unemployment rate >10%No (n=6875 in 34 occupational groups)
Yes (n=1735 in 11 occupational groups)
Full sick pay in first 3 months of absenceNo (n=3003 in 21 occupational groups)
Yes (n=5607 in 24 occupational groups)
Lack of social security support for long-term unemploymentNo (n=5496 in 26 occupational groups)
Yes (n=3114 in 19 occupational groups)
Support for ill-health retirementNo (n=4110 in19 occupational groups)
Yes (n=4500 in 26 occupational groups)
Payment for primary careNo (n=5803 in 27 occupational groups)
Yes (n=2807 in 18 occupational groups)
Compensation for back/arm painNo (n=1635 in 9 occupational groups)
Yes (n=6975 in 36 occupational groups)
Group prevalence of adverse health beliefs about low back pain* 
 Work-relatednessContinuous (n=8610)
 Physical activityContinuous (n=8610)
 PrognosisContinuous (n=8610)
Group prevalence of adverse health beliefs about arm/shoulder/hand pain† 
 Work-relatednessContinuous (n=8610)
 Physical activityContinuous (n=8610)
 PrognosisContinuous (n=8610)
Group prevalence of absence for >5 days in total during year before baseline for non-musculoskeletal problemsContinuous (n=8610)
Group mean pain propensity index‡Continuous (n=8610)

  • *Analyses of sickness absence for low back pain.

  • †Analyses of sickness absence for neck pain, shoulder pain and wrist/hand pain.

  • ‡For each outcome, pain propensity index was defined according to the number of anatomical sites, excluding the outcome site, that had been painful in the year before baseline (see text).