Frequency of Neck Pain and Associated Disability in Medical Students
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly neck pain, have been increasingly documented among medical students due to their rigorous academic and clinical training demands. The impact of neck pain can lead to significant disability, affecting academic performance and quality of life. Prior studies have demonstrated varying prevalence across different geographies, indicating a need for further localized research.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of neck pain and its associated disability using the neck disability index among students of Akhtar Saeed Medical College and to compare these findings with global data.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed, involving 150 students from various medical programs. Data collection was conducted via a structured questionnaire including the Neck Pain Disability Index and the Visual Analog Scale for pain intensity. Ethical approval was obtained in line with the Helsinki Declaration. The sample size was determined statistically, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Statistical tests including independent t-tests and Chi-square tests were utilized to discern the significance of associations, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Participants had an average age of 22.74±2.04 years, with a gender distribution of 58.7% female and 41.3% male. The mean score for neck pain disability was higher in females (21.33±6.45) compared to males (20.76±5.11), albeit non-significantly (p=0.562). The prevalence of neck pain in our sample (58.7%) was higher than in similar cohorts from Brazil (8.23%), Thailand (22.3%), and China (33.8%), yet comparable to Pakistan (44.8%), Australia (52.8%), and Central Saudi Arabia (54%). Approximately 22.7% of students reported neck pain that interfered with their normal activities.
Conclusion: Neck pain was found to be prevalent among the medical student population, with a higher incidence in females. The study underscores the association between neck pain and disability, suggesting the need for preventive measures and interventions within the medical academic setting.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Dighriri YH, Akkur MA, Alharbi SA, Madkhali NA, Matabi KI, Mahfouz MSJJofm, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of neck, shoulder, and low-back pains among medical students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. 2019;8(12):3826.
James SL, Abate D, Abate KH, Abay SM, Abbafati C, Abbasi N, et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. 2018;392(10159):1789-858.
Haq N, Ali AA, MR MI AT, Hussain A, Abbasi PJRPHS. Assessment of neck pain, causes and intensity among the students of department of eastern medicine, university of balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 2020;6:136-40.
Hartvigsen J, Hancock MJ, Kongsted A, Louw Q, Ferreira ML, Genevay S, et al. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. 2018;391(10137):2356-67.
Long MH, Bogossian FE, Johnston VJWh, safety. The prevalence of work-related neck, shoulder, and upper back musculoskeletal disorders among midwives, nurses, and physicians: a systematic review. 2013;61(5):223-9.
Algarni AD, Al-Saran Y, Al-Moawi A, Bin Dous A, Al-Ahaideb A, Kachanathu SJJPr, et al. The prevalence of and factors associated with neck, shoulder, and low-back pains among medical students at university hospitals in Central Saudi Arabia. 2017;2017.
Kamper SJ, Henschke N, Hestbaek L, Dunn KM, Williams CMJBjopt. Musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents. 2016;20:275-84.
Kompal R, Kashif M, Riaz U, Dastgir A, Irum H, Manzoor NJIJRS. Prevalence of low back, neck and shoulder pain and associated risk factors among senior semester female students of the university of faisalabad. 2017;5:21-7.
Nawaz U, Jamshaid A, Rafi MA, Hussain HJPJoPH. Frequency of Text Neck Pain in Islamabad. 2020;10(4):252-5.
Demirci S, Demirci K, Akgonul MJJNP. Headache in smartphone users: a cross-sectional study. 2016;4(1):5.
Alhazmi AA, Alzahrani SH, Baig M, Salawati EMJPjoms. Prevalence and factors associated with smartphone addiction among medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. 2018;34(4):984.
Mohammadbeigi A, Absari R, Valizadeh F, Saadati M, Sharifimoghadam S, Ahmadi A, et al. Sleep quality in medical students; the impact of over-use of mobile cellphone and social networks. 2016;16(1):46.
Cohen SP, editor Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clinic Proceedings; 2015: Elsevier.
Kim M-SJJopts. Influence of neck pain on cervical movement in the sagittal plane during smartphone use. 2015;27(1):15-7.
Setianingrum AYJJOSI. Hubungan phantom vibration syndrome terhadap sleep disorder dan kondisi stress. 2017;16(2):158-66.
Ayaz SB, Malik R, Khan AA, Gill ZA, Akhtar N, Matee SJAEAB. Intensity of neck pain secondary to excessive flexion posturing, its association with study activities and duration of posturing and impact on sleep in students of women medical college. 2016;66:22.
Smith D, Leggat PJJoMP. Prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal pain among Australian medical students. 2007;15(4):39-46.
Gharib N, Hamid NSJJAS. Prevalence of mechanical neck pain in Taif university female students: a survey study. 2013;9(6):347-54.
Silva AL, Smaidi K, Pires MHR, Pires OCJRD. Prevalence of chronic pain and associated factors among medical students. 2017;18:108-11.
Kanchanomai S, Janwantanakul P, Pensri P, Jiamjarasrangsi WJBph. Risk factors for the onset and persistence of neck pain in undergraduate students: 1-year prospective cohort study. 2011;11(1):1-8.
Smith DR, Wei N, Ishitake T, Wang R-SJTKmj. Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese medical students. 2005;52(4):139-46.
Sadat BE, Babaei-Ghazani A, Azizi R, Parizad MJMJoTUoMS. Prevalence and risk factors of neck and shoulder pain in medical students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. 2013;35(3):12-7.
Alshagga MA, Nimer AR, Yan LP, Ibrahim IAA, Al-Ghamdi SS, Radman Al-Dubai SAJBrn. Prevalence and factors associated with neck, shoulder and low back pains among medical students in a Malaysian Medical College. 2013;6(1):1-7.
Ayanniyi O, Mbada CE, Iroko OPJTPMB. Neck Pain Occurrence and Characteristics in Nigerian University Undergraduates. 2010;9(3).
Guzman J, Haldeman S, Carroll LJ, Carragee EJ, Hurwitz EL, Peloso P, et al. Clinical practice implications of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders: from concepts and findings to recommendations. 2008;17:199-213.
Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen JJEsj. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. 2006;15:834-48.
Guez M, Hildingsson C, Nilsson M, Toolanen GJAOS. The prevalence of neck pain. 2002;73(4):455-9.
Biondi DMJCP, Reports H. Cervicogenic headache: diagnostic evaluation and treatment strategies. 2001;5:361-8.
Madadizadeh F, Vali L, Rafiei S, Akbarnejad ZJEp. Risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulder in the personnel of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. 2017;9(5):4341.
Fals Martínez J, González Martínez F, Orozco Páez J, Correal Castillo SP, Pernett Gómez CVJRBdE. Musculoskeletal alterations associated factors physical and environmental in dental students. 2012;15:884-95.