ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: The same contents of questionnaire about the low back pain(LBP) were conducted among the Korean and the Japanese hospital workers. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of LBP and the correlates of occupation and care-seeking. SUMMARY OF LITERATUR REVIEW: Previous epidemiological researches about LBP were usually performed within a country, Korean researches were for the Korean population and Japanese for the Japanese. MATERIAL & METHODS: The history, the cause, the frequency, the severity, and the method of treatment of LBP were compared between the Korean (N=336) and the Japanese (N=428) hospital workers RESULTS: The prevalence of past LBP history were higher in Korean (80%) than in Japanese case(68%), but the percentage of care-seeking (Japan: 64% & Korea: 49%) and lost workdays (9% & 7%) were inverted. The prevalence was the highest in nurse occupation (73% & 89%), and most of these cases reported the cause of LBP as work-related (72% & 71%), which was much higher than the other occupations (34% & 39%). Among the care-seeking (Japan: N=186, Korea: N=131), the percentage of hospital visit was higher in Japanese (43%) than in Korean case (24%). The other methods of care included pharmacy, massage, finger-pressure therapy, acupuncture and moxa, and these were similarly prefered by two countries. CONCLUSION: Epidemiology of LBP was compared between Japanese and Korean hospital worktors. Further study will be needed to compare the actual epidemiology of an LBP.(232 words)