Studies suggest strong underreporting of occupational
diseases in industrialized countries. We studied physician-
related barriers to reporting of occupational sciatica
(with herniated disk). We conducted a telephone
survey of 391 general practitioners (GPs) and 96
rheumatologists in southeastern France with a standardized
questionnaire and case-vignette of a patient
with occupational sciatica. Our results show that 71% of
GPs and 78% of rheumatologists would not recommend
that the case-vignette patient file a workers’ compensation
claim, for the following reasons: possible role of
nonwork-related activities (77%, 74%), should be
reported as an occupational accident (67%, 42%), recommendation
should be made by occupational physicians
(60%, 60%), and risk of patient's losing his job
(47%, 38%). Our results suggest that occupational sciatica
is underreported in France. Physicians' lack of
knowledge of reporting principles and procedures and
their ethical dilemma regarding job loss may be barriers
to reporting.