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Low-back pain disorders as occupational diseases in the Czech Republic and 22 European Countries: Comparison of national systems, related diagnoses and evaluation criteria
- Source :
- Scopus-Elsevier, ResearcherID, Central European journal of public health, 23(3), 244-251. Czech National Institute of Public Health, Central European journal of public health, Central European journal of public health, Czech Medical Association J. E. Purkyne, 2015, 23 (3), pp.244-251. ⟨10.21101/cejph.a4185⟩
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Abstract
- International audience; Aim: Low-back pain diseases (LBPD) belong to the most frequent diagnoses determined by general practitioners, and constitute one of the most common reasons for sick leave and permanent disability pension in the Czech Republic and other European countries. Epidemiological studies have shown a statistically significant association between LBPD and certain types of occupational burden. However, in the Czech Republic, LBPD caused by overload and/or whole-body vibrations have not yet been included in the list of occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to collect and compare the systems, criteria and diagnoses used to recognize LBPD as occupational diseases in other European countries.Methods: A questionnaire focused on LBPD was distributed and answered by specialists in occupational diseases in European countries. It included items concerning LBPD in the national list of occupational diseases, and work-related and diagnostic criteria that need to be fulfilled for recognizing LBPD as occupational diseases and possible awarding compensations to the patients.Results: In 13 countries out of the 23 countries studied, LBPD caused by overload can be recognized as occupational, providing that the diagnosis is sufficiently proven and exposure criteria and/or listed occupation are met and duration of exposure is confirmed (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland). LBPD due to vibrations can be also recognized as occupational in 14 countries. In 8 countries LBPD are not accepted as occupational unless they are caused by an injury at work. Specific criteria to evaluate occupational exposure of patients with LBPD were set in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, and Slovakia. In other countries, the evaluation is done at an individual basis.Conclusions: In practice, the assessment of occupational overload and its contribution to the development of LBPD as well as its inclusion in the compensation system are important for several reasons. Firstly, it may be considered essentially preventable. Secondly, cases with a significant contribution of occupational aetiology may be viewed as occupational diseases for which compensation may be claimed, as it is the case in many European countries. Importantly, inclusion of LBPD in the list of occupational diseases or another system of compensation may be viewed as a preventive measure as it increases the visibility of this problem not only for the workers, but especially for the employers.
- Subjects :
- Czech
medicine.medical_specialty
Lifting
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]
Occupational disease
MEDLINE
Vibration
Job Satisfaction
03 medical and health sciences
Disability Evaluation
0302 clinical medicine
Epidemiology
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Occupations
10. No inequality
Czech Republic
Pension
business.industry
Incidence
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Age Factors
General Medicine
medicine.disease
030210 environmental & occupational health
language.human_language
3. Good health
Europe
Occupational Diseases
Family medicine
Population Surveillance
8. Economic growth
Sick leave
Physical therapy
language
Job satisfaction
Sick Leave
business
Inclusion (education)
Low Back Pain
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 12107778
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Scopus-Elsevier, ResearcherID, Central European journal of public health, 23(3), 244-251. Czech National Institute of Public Health, Central European journal of public health, Central European journal of public health, Czech Medical Association J. E. Purkyne, 2015, 23 (3), pp.244-251. ⟨10.21101/cejph.a4185⟩
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2b618a70b09e29848efb0fcb35034100