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Table 3 Odds of receiving imaging in participants who (1) believe imaging to be important in the management of low back pain; or (2) want to receive imaging at the initial consult

From: Patients with low back pain presenting for chiropractic care who want diagnostic imaging are more likely to receive referral for imaging: a cross-sectional study

 

Imaging proportion n/N% (95%CI)

Univariable analysis OR (95%CI)

Multivariable analysis OR (95%CI)

Model 1: Participant beliefs of the importance of imaging for low back pain

Beliefs that imaging is importanta

153/505

  
 

30.3% (26.5, 34.4)

1.5 (1.2, 1.9)

1.1 (0.8, 1.5)

Beliefs that imaging is not important

340/1,548

  
 

22.0% (20.0, 24.1)

  

Sensitivity analysis: imaging belief questions summedbb

 

1.1 (1.1, 1.2)

1.1 (1.0, 1.1)

Model 2: Whether participants wanted to receive an imaging referral

Wanting to receive imagingc

209/550

  
 

38.0% (34.0, 42.1)

2.5 (2.1, 3.1)

1.6 (1.2, 2.1)

Not wanting to receive imaging

316/1,622

  
 

19.5% (17.6, 21.5)

  
  1. Analysis adjusted for pre-selected confounder variables: age, sex, LBP intensity, LBP duration, LBP disability, previous imaging for LBP, previous episodes of LBP, suspicion of serious pathology, presence of leg pain, and practitioner imaging frequency
  2. OR, odds ratio; 95%CI, 95% confidence interval
  3. aBeliefs of the importance of imaging measured as a dichotomous variable. Beliefs that imaging is not important used as the reference group
  4. bSummed imaging beliefs measured and assessed as a continuous variable (2–10 point scale). The higher the score, the stronger the belief that imaging is important
  5. cWanting to receive imaging measured as a dichotomous variable. Not wanting to receive imaging used as the reference group