title: Diagnoses and treatment recommendations on workers compensation medical certificates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the diagnostic descriptions and treatment recommendations for back and neck pain on the new workers compensation medical certificates and compare these with evidence-based guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 251 medical certificates of workers with compensable neck and back pain held by a workers compensation insurer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnoses given and treatments prescribed by the nominated treating doctors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnoses most frequently used were "sprain/strain" and "pain/ache". Physiotherapy was the most frequently prescribed treatment, followed by rest and medication. Rest was prescribed for 68 (27%) workers, 87% of whom were classified as having an acute injury. Activity-based treatments were prescribed for 45 (18%) workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not all doctors used diagnostic terms consistent with recommended anatomical taxonomy. The drug therapy prescribed was consistent with current evidence-based treatment guidelines. However, the prescribing of rest, and the omission, in most cases, of explicit recommendations to resume normal activities, including work, are not consistent with current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW. E.Schonstein@cchs.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schönstein
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012146:Rest; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014942:Workers' Compensation
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal