Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38652423›Full record

SynthesisJournal of occupational rehabilitation2025

Use of General Practitioner Services Among Workers with Work-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

Preeti Maharjan, Asmare Gelaw, Daniel Griffiths, Danielle Mazza, Alex Collie

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Preeti MaharjanHealthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Preeti.maharjan@monash.edu.
Asmare GelawHealthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Daniel GriffithsHealthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Danielle MazzaDepartment of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Alex CollieHealthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWork-related low back pain (WRLBP) is a highly prevalent health problem worldwide leading to work disability and increased healthcare utilisation. General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in the management of WRLBP. Despite this, understanding of GP service use for WRLBP is limited. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence, patterns and determinants of GP service use for WRLBP.

methodsMEDLINE, Embase via Ovid, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English without any restriction on time of publications. Low back pain (LBP) was considered work-related if the study included workers' compensation claim data analysis, participants with accepted workers' compensation claims or reported a connection with work and LBP. The eligibility criteria for GP service use are met if there is any reported consultation with family practitioner, medical doctor or General Practitioner. Two reviewers screened articles and extracted data independently. Narrative synthesis was conducted.

resultsSeven eligible studies reported prevalence of GP service use among workers with WRLBP ranging from 11% to 99.3%. Only studies from Australia, Canada and the United States met the eligibility criteria. The prevalence of GP service use was higher in Australia (70%) and Canada (99.3%) compared to the United States (25.3% to 39%). The mean (standard deviation) number of GP visits ranged from 2.6 (1.6) to 9.6 (12.4) over a two-year time interval post-WRLBP onset. Determinants of higher GP service use included prior history of low back pain, more severe injury, prior GP visits and younger age.

conclusionOnly seven studies met the eligibility indicating a relative lack of evidence, despite the acknowledged important role that GPs play in the care of workers with low back pain. More research is needed to understand the prevalence, patterns and determinants to support effective service delivery and policy development.

Indexed as

General PractitionersLow Back PainOccupational DiseasesAustraliaCanadaHumansPrevalenceUnited StatesWorkers' CompensationGeneral PractitionersMusculoskeletal disordersPrimary careWork-related injuryWork-related low back pain

Identifiers

PMID38652423
PMCPMC11839839

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.