ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN AMONG BOTH MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS POST COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN JORDAN

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

2 Royal National Orthopedic Hospital NHS Trust, London UK.

3 Royal Jordanian medical services, Amman, Jordan.

4 Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus.

5 Applied Science Private Uni., School of Pharmacy.

6 Petra Uni., research department, Amman, Jordan.

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint among university students, and it is a leading cause of major musculoskeletal disability. Therefore, it is critical to recognize potential risk factors for LBP at an early stage to prevent further complications. Aim: This study aims to evaluates LBP prevalence, severity, and associated factors among undergraduate university students in Jordan. Methodology: This is a comparative cross-sectional study conducted involving 322 medical and 153 non-medical students during 2021/2022 academic year. After obtaining ethical approval, data were collected via a self-administered online questionnaire distributed through social media platforms and in-person collections. Socio-demographic data and questions about e-learning and physical activity were included. Characteristics of LBP were determined and measured using a numeric grading scale. Results: Mean age was 20.66 for medical students and 21.76 for non-medical students, with females’ predominance. Around 70% experienced LBP in 2021, and most did not seek medical advice (83.5% medical, 76.1% non-medical). Pain severity averaged 4 ± 1 for both groups. Online learners reported higher LBP incidence, and both groups had sedentary lifestyles. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP appears to be high among undergraduate students. Moreover, online learning did not show a statistically significant effect on the development of LBP. This research identified two statistically significant correlations: the relationship between being female and developing LBP, as well as the relationship between carrying a backpack and experiencing LBP. Further studies should be conducted to address this topic due to its importance and the burden it places on healthcare systems.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Ain Shams Medical Journal
Volume 75, Issue 1
March 2024
Pages 249-259

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics