ArticleBMJ open2016
Has there been a change in the rates of UK sickness certification for back pain over time? An examination of historical data from 2000 to 2010.
Article in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Health service utilization for low back pain in Germany between 2000 and 2020-a scoping review of claims data.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Pooled it
- The Development and Content of the Vocational Advice Intervention and Training Package for the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP) Trial (ISRCTN 52269669).Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2019Trial
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThis paper aims to investigate historical patterns of sickness certification for back pain from 2000 to 2010.
designElectronic medical records from 14 practices that are part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network: West Midlands were reviewed. All records for back pain consultations from 2000 to 2010 were downloaded and matched, by date, to corresponding sickness certification records.
settingPrimary Care.
resultsA total of 93,896 back pain consultations were recorded over the 11-year period, resulting in 30,913 sickness certificates. There was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of certification over the period, falling from 376.8 (95% CI 362.1 to 392) per 1000 back pain consultations in 2000 to 246.5 (95% CI 236.5 to 332.9) per 1000 back pain consultations in 2010. There was also a statistically significant difference in certification between males and females, with males issued more certificates than females. There was a statistically significant difference in certification by age, with those aged 60 years and over being less likely to be issued a certificate compared to all other age groups.
conclusionsRates of sickness certification for back pain demonstrated a downward trend between 2000 and 2010. While the reasons for this are not transparent, it may be related to changing beliefs around working with back pain.
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Registered trials
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