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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients by instruction group

From: Usefulness of a visual aid in achieving optimal positioning for spinal anesthesia: a randomized trial

Variable & category

Verbal (n = 43)

Verbal and visual (n = 42)

p-value

Age in years (mean (SD))

68 (9)

65 (12)

0.102a

BMI (mean (SD)) (kg/m2)

32 (5)

31 (5)

0.413a

Gender (n (%))

  

0.037b

 Male

24 (56)

14 (33)

 

 Female

19 (44)

28 (67)

 

Education (n (%))

  

0.745b

 Primary

16 (37)

13 (31)

 

 Secondary

21 (49)

24 (57)

 

 Tertiary

6 (14)

5 (12)

 

Prior spinal educationd (n (%))

  

1.00

 Yes

3 (7)

3 (7)

 

 No

39 (91)

38 (90)

 

Experience of anesthesiologist (n (%))

  

0.351c

  < 6 months

4 (9)

5 (12)

 

 6mths- <2 years

3 (7)

1 (2)

 

 2+ years

32 (74)

27 (64)

 

 Consultant

4 (9)

9 (21)

 

Bony landmarks (n (%))

  

0.738b

 Clear

36 (84)

34 (81)

 

 Unclear

7 (16)

8 (19)

 
  1. SD standard deviation, BMI body mass index
  2. p-values derived from: aStudent’s t-test; bPearson’s chi-square test; cFisher’s exact test
  3. dTotals differ due to missing values