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Significant site, regional influence seen in prevalence of seeking medical care, lost time due to low back pain
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According to recently published results, the prevalence of rates for seeking medical care and lost time due to low back pain for manual material handling workers was significantly influenced by their study site or region.
Researchers identified 1,929 manual material handling workers with low back pain (LBP) from data collections, institutions or sites which included the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Texas A&M University and the University of Utah. Patients were given a questionnaire and asked three questions about their history of low back pain health effects in the past 12 months. The questions asked whether participants had LBP lasting 7 days, sought medical care for LBP, and taken time off work due to LBP.
Results showed the 12-month period prevalence of LBP lasting 7 days was 25%. The prevalence of workers seeking medical care was 14%, and the prevalence of those who lost time due to LBP was 10%. Investigators noted no significant difference was seen for any prevalence measure with regard to gender, age or weight between cases and non-cases. For all prevalence definitions, the height of the workers was significantly greater in cases compared with non-cases.
Sites were significantly different with regard to the prevalence of seeking medical care for LBP and lost time due to LBP. Significantly higher prevalence rates for seeking medical care and lost time due to LBP were seen at the Ohio State University compared with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Utah and Texas A&M University. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: This study was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health grant #RO1OH010916.
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