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BACKGROUND: Low back pain is considered to be the most common single cause of sickness absence. In 2010, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal established an interdisciplinary treatment programme through the Faster Return-to-Work scheme, based on the relevant guidelines for patients with low back pain. In this study we present our experiences from six years of the treatment programme. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients who were referred to Sørlandet Hospital in Arendal in the period 2011–16 due to long-term symptoms of low back pain were offered interdisciplinary treatment. This included a one-to-one consultation with a doctor, four weeks of group-based low back school, and physiotherapist-led exercise as well as eight weeks of either physiotherapist-led exercise or home exercise. The degree of sick leave and functional level using scores on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were reported at the outset and after 4 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients in employment completed the treatment programme. The average age was 41.9 years and 52 % were women. Altogether 57 % were on certified sick leave at the outset and the remainder were assessed as being at high risk of going on sick leave. A total of 7.5 % were placed on sick leave during the observation period, while 28.5 % of those on sick leave were declared completely fit. Altogether 52.7 % of the patients had a clinically significant reduction in RMDQ scores (> 3.5 points). INTERPRETATION: The interdisciplinary treatment programme appears to improve function and reduce sickness absent in patients with long-term low back pain. This study has a short follow-up time and no control group; the observations must therefore be interpreted with caution.

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