The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension
Determinants of return-to-work among low back pain patients
& NA ; This prospect i ve study identifies physical , behavioral , and psychosocial correlates of subsequent employment status in a sample of low back pain patients . The sample of 150 subjects was drawn from 2 population s of persons with chronic low back pain : 87 individuals who were receiving care at a university low back pain clinic , and 63 individuals who had applied for ( but not yet received ) Social Security compensation on the basis of low back pain . All subjects had worked at least 3 months prior to their latest unemployment period and were currently out of work . Initial assessment included a medical history , physical examination , biomechanical testing , psychiatric interview , and MMPI testing .  All subjects were followed up 6 months later to determine whether they had returned to work . Cross‐sectional group comparisons at the time of initial assessment showed that , after controlling for the effects of age , the two sample s differed on several physical and biomechanical measures , the Social Security group reflecting a more chronic picture . Group differences on physical variables were found , but most significant differences disappeared when adjusted for length of time out‐of‐work . Longitudinal analyses showed that few objective physical or biomechanical measures were associated with return‐to‐work at 6 months , while a number of psychosocial variables were significant predictors of 6‐month work status . The data suggest that exclusive reliance on the physical examination to determine level of disability , without consideration of psychosocial conditions , and without adjusting for the confounding effects of age and length of time out‐of‐work , is not empirically justified . Logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the relative contribution of each predictor to outcome and to illustrate the hypothetical effects of changes in the levels of selected risk factors on the likelihood of return‐to‐work . Implication s for interventions with low back pain patients are discussed and future research directions suggested
The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension