ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN AMONG BOTH MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS POST COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN JORDAN | ||||
Ain Shams Medical Journal | ||||
Volume 75, Issue 1, March 2024, Page 249-259 PDF (633.43 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/asmj.2024.272146.1229 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Ahmad Alrousan1; Hiba Bibay 1; Fadi Hadidi1; Mahmoud Abdallat1; Qussay AL-Sabbagh1; Tareq Kanaan1; Yazan Hammad2; Leen Al Sahile1; Rotana Abu-Obaida1; Wedad Al-Warafı1; Zain Abu Amrieh1; Abdullah Madani3; Bisher Alghalaiyni3; Saad Awamleh4; Murad Alrousan3; Omar Alghalaiyni3; Tania Alrawi5; Yara Abuhilaleh6 | ||||
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. | ||||
2Royal National Orthopedic Hospital NHS Trust, London UK. | ||||
3Royal Jordanian medical services, Amman, Jordan. | ||||
4Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus. | ||||
5Applied Science Private Uni., School of Pharmacy. | ||||
6Petra 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 | ||||
Low back pain; online learning; undergraduate students; COVID-19 | ||||
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