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Table 1 Selected socio-demographic and professional characteristics of physiotherapists (n = 236, unless noted)

From: Physiotherapy practice in the private sector: organizational characteristics and models

Variable

n (%)

mean (SD)

missing n (%)

Gender

   

  Men

86 (36.4)

  

  Women

150 (63.6)

  

Age (years; range 23.9-69.1)

 

38.4 (10.2)

 

Mother tongue

   

  French

201 (85.2)

  

  English

20 (8.5)

  

  Other

15 (6.4)

  

Main language used with patients

   

  French

216 (91.5)

  

  English

16 (6.8)

  

  Other

4 (1.7)

  

Highest level of education

   

  Baccalaureate

189 (80.1)

  

  Certificate/micro-program

6 (2.5)

  

  Master’s

23 (9.7)

  

  Doctoral

1 (0.4)

  

  Other

17 (7.2)

  

Level of education of PTβ diploma

  

1 (0.4)

  Baccalaureate

218 (92.4)

  

  Master’s

14 (5.9)

  

  Other

3 (1.3)

  

Professional experience (years)

 

13.3 (9.8)

 

Professional experience with people with LBPλ (years)

 

12.5 (9.4)

 

Duration of work in organization (years)

 

8.1 (7.1)

 

Affiliation with organization

   

  Owner/co-owner

81 (34.3)

  

  Self-employed

28 (11.9)

  

  Employee

127 (53.8)

  

Remuneration

   

  Per patient (visit)

108 (45.8)

  

  Hourly salary

84 (35.6)

  

  Mixed (per patient + hourly)

24 (10.2)

  

  Other

20 (8.5)

  

Worked also in another organization

54 (22.9)

 

2 (0.8)

Mean hours worked in a usual week*

 

33.1 (8.7)

2 (0.8)

Mean patients seen (visits) in a usual week*

 

48.7 (18.2)

9 (3.8)

Mean nights worked after 6 pm in a usual week*

 

1.6 (1.2)

11 (4.7)

Contributed to teaching in physiotherapy*

18 (7.6)

 

4 (1.7)

Supervised physiotherapy training*

58 (24.6)

  

% of clientele with LBP*

 

38.5 (14.0)

2 (0.8)

% of clientele with LBP referred by physician*

 

40.7 (24.5)

1 (0.4)

% of clientele with LBP covered by*:

  

2 (0.8)

  Workers’ Compensation Board

 

20.9 (18.3)

 

  Automobile Insurance Society

 

9.1 (9.6)

 

  Private insurance

 

56.3 (23.8)

 

  Person

 

12.4 (11.1)

 

  Other

 

1.3 (2.9)

 

% of clientele according to stage of LBP*:

  

1 (0.4)

  Acute

 

33.5 (19.5)

 

  Sub-acute

 

33.2 (14.1)

 

  Chronic

 

33.3 (19.3)

 

Main intervention approach for patients with LBP:

  

1 (0.4)

  Conventionalα

25 (10.6)

  

  Functional/exercise

33 (14.0)

  

  Mechanical (McKenzie/manual therapy)

131 (55.5)

  

  Osteopathic/global postural re-education

41 (17.4)

  

  Other

5 (2.1)

  

Secondary intervention approach for patients with LBP:

  

6 (2.5)

  Conventional

56 (23.7)

  

  Functional/exercise

118 (50.0)

  

  Mechanical (McKenzie/manual therapy)

41 (17.4)

  

  Osteopathic/global postural re-education

14 (5.9)

  

  Other

1 (0.4)

  
  1. βPT = physiotherapy.
  2. λLBP = low back pain.
  3. *In previous 12 months.
  4. αIncludes for example electrotherapy, physical modalities, soft tissue techniques.