The absence from work due to low back pain and the repercussions on health: old persisting issues and challenges

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the health-disease process of subjects affected by low back pain in a situation of absence from work, and the repercussions on health. Method: Exploratory, descriptive, retrospective and qualitative study. Step (1): selection of open charts in the CEREST (2010-2011) of subjects with clinical diagnosis referring to diseases of the lumbar spine, complaints of low back pain and who experienced absence from work. Step (2): conducting of semi-structured and individual interviews, recorded and transcribed for content analysis. Results: Of the fifty (50) medical records, ten (10) subjects were interviewed, six (6) of them where female, most of them of low educational level and several professions. We identified occupational organization experiences that contributed to the worsening of cases and absence from work, such as intense pressures and rhythms, undersized teams

fear of unemployment and subjection to demands, among others, which caused suffering. Conclusion: The health-disease process and worsening of low back pain at work needs to be extensively investigated, taking into account also the subjective, relational and social aspects involved.