The Prevalence of Low Back Pain Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study From Saudi Arabia.

Autor:	Taha YA; General Practice, King Khalid Hospital, Najran, SAU., Al Swaidan HA; General Practice, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alyami HS; General Practice, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alwadany MM; General Practice, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Al-Swaidan MH; General Practice, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alabbas YH; General Practice, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Dhaen HM; General Practice, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BHR., Faidhi AA; General Practice, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BHR.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2023 May 14; Vol. 15 (5), pp. e38997. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 14 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.38997
Abstrakt:	Background: Low back pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition that affects a significant proportion of the adult population. Medical students are particularly vulnerable due to the demands of their rigorous curriculum. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with low back pain among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students and interns at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia using a convenience sampling technique. An online questionnaire was distributed via social media applications to explore the prevalence and risk factors for low back pain. Results: Out of 300 medical students who participated in the study, 94% reported experiencing low back pain, with a mean pain score of 3.91 ± 2.0 out of 10. The most common factor that aggravated the pain was prolonged sitting. Logistic regression analysis revealed that sitting for more than eight hours (OR=5.61; 95% CI: 2.92-21.42) and not engaging in physical exercise (OR=3.10; 95% CI: 1.34-6.57) were independently associated with a higher prevalence of low back pain. These findings highlight the increased risk of low back pain among medical students due to prolonged sitting and a lack of physical activity. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the high prevalence of low back pain among medical students and identifies significant risk factors that exacerbate the condition. It emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to promote physical activity, reduce prolonged sitting, manage stress, and encourage good posture among medical students. The implementation of such interventions could help alleviate the burden of low back pain and improve the quality of life for medical students. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2023, Taha et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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