Occupational low back disability: effective strategies for reducing lost work time.

1. The important variables related to lost work time in this study are: back diagnosis (lumbar disc displacement), history of back surgery, job satisfaction, and employee reluctance to report low back pain to supervisor. 2. The findings support the complexity of low back disability. Lost work time related to low back pain must be managed using a "holistic" approach by addressing all dimensions of a person (physical, emotional, and environmental). 3. To minimize low back disability, occupational health providers should be part of a community task force with representatives from other disciplines who can plan and develop low back disability guidelines and standards of care.