Back pain claim rates in Japan and the United States: framing the puzzle (original) (raw)

Spine, 2005

Abstract

This is a cross-national comparison of workers' compensation claims for back pain in Japan and the United States (US). The main objective is to juxtapose rates of back pain claims in Japan and Washington state. Because the Washington state rate closely matches rates for other US states as well as the rate for the US as a whole, it is used to represent the US rate. A puzzle is to be framed: Why are back pain claim rates in Japan and the United States so disparate? Occupational back pain is common among workers in both Japan and the United States. Wage compensation for time off work is also substantial in both countries and potentially induces time off work at least as much in Japan as in the United States. Accordingly, back pain claim rates in Japan seemingly would be on the same order of magnitude as rates in the United States. Washington state rates are based on data from its state fund. Both Japan and Washington state rates are composed of the number of workers eligible to fil...

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