[The management of back problems among the population II. Therapists' and patients' perception of the disease]

The aim of the study was to describe how back trouble is interpreted by health care providers and a sample of the general population. Health care providers (general practitioners, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and specialists in rheumatology), in total 1018 professionals, filled out a mailed questionnaire. A sample of the general population, 3204 individuals, were interviewed concerning the interpretation of back trouble. Health care providers and the general population interpret a hypothetical episode of acute back trouble in different ways. Compared with the other provider groups and the general population, chiropractors to a higher degree classify back trouble as illness and a larger proportion would seek professional assistance. Both health care providers and the general population point out that back trouble is related to lack of physical fitness.