Biomaterial Database

Disabling low back Oregon Workers' Compensation claims. Part II: Time loss. 1991

J Nyiendo

Western States Chiropractic College, Portland, Oregon 97230.

This paper reports on time loss incurred by chiropractic (DC) and medical (MD) claimants with disabling low back work-related injuries in Oregon. Clinical categorization was accomplished using medical records and was based on reported symptomatology, objective clinical findings and functional impairment. The median time loss days for cases with comparable clinical presentation (severity) was 9.0 for DC cases and 11.5 for MD cases. Chiropractic claimants had a higher frequency of return to work with 1 wk or less of time loss. No difference was seen in time loss days for MD or DC claimants with no documented history of low back pain. However, for claimants with a history of chronic low back problems, the median time loss days for MD cases was 34.5 days, compared to 9 days for DC cases. It is suggested that chiropractors are better able to manage injured workers with a history of chronic low back problems and to return them more quickly to productive employment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009784	Occupational Diseases	Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment.	Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D009922	Oregon	State bounded on the north by Washington, on the east by Idaho, on the south by California and Nevada, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.
D012008	Recurrence	The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission.	Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002684	Chiropractic	An occupational discipline founded by D.D. Palmer in the 1890's based on the relationship of the spine to health and disease.
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003362	Cost-Benefit Analysis	A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected benefits in dollars (or other currency). The benefit-to-cost ratio is a measure of total return expected per unit of money spent. This analysis generally excludes consideration of factors that are not measured ultimately in economic terms. In contrast a cost effectiveness in general compares cost with qualitative outcomes.	Cost and Benefit,Cost-Benefit Data,Benefits and Costs,Cost Benefit,Cost Benefit Analysis,Cost-Utility Analysis,Costs and Benefits,Economic Evaluation,Marginal Analysis,Analyses, Cost Benefit,Analysis, Cost Benefit,Analysis, Cost-Benefit,Analysis, Cost-Utility,Analysis, Marginal,Benefit and Cost,Cost Benefit Analyses,Cost Benefit Data,Cost Utility Analysis,Cost-Benefit Analyses,Cost-Utility Analyses,Data, Cost-Benefit,Economic Evaluations,Evaluation, Economic,Marginal Analyses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000041	Absenteeism	Chronic absence from work or other duty.
D001416	Back Pain	Acute or chronic pain located in the posterior regions of the THORAX; LUMBOSACRAL REGION; or the adjacent regions.	Backache,Back Ache,Back Pain with Radiation,Back Pain without Radiation,Vertebrogenic Pain Syndrome,Ache, Back,Aches, Back,Back Aches,Back Pains,Backaches,Pain Syndrome, Vertebrogenic,Pain Syndromes, Vertebrogenic,Pain, Back,Pains, Back,Syndrome, Vertebrogenic Pain,Syndromes, Vertebrogenic Pain,Vertebrogenic Pain Syndromes
D012456	Salaries and Fringe Benefits	The remuneration paid or benefits granted to an employee.	Fringe Benefits,Wages,Paternity Benefits,Pay Equity,Salaries,Benefit, Fringe,Benefit, Paternity,Benefits, Fringe,Benefits, Paternity,Equities, Pay,Equity, Pay,Fringe Benefit,Paternity Benefit,Pay Equities,Salary,Wage