[Round-table discussion on the weak back problem. Misunderstood backache patients, a challenge to medical care]

"Pain in the back" is one of the most common reasons for consultations, sick-leaves, and invalid pensions. In the Nordic countries, back trouble costs thousands of millions of kronor each year in terms of lost working days alone. Yet, the information to the doctors on problems connected with this disorder is generally sparse, and the primary doctors give too little time to the backache patients. The latter are often misunderstood - but most of those who seek medical advice for "pain in the back" really suffer pain. The failing care of backache patients was discussed at a round-table conference held by Nordisk Medicin in Oslo in October, 1975. A programme of action was outlined.