Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders by standardized nordic questionnaire among computer engineering students and teaching staff of Gulbarga city

Abstract

Background: Computer work has generated a new genre of occupational health problems like Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). Computer overuse have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms and shoulders causing pain and stiffness in various regions of the body like neck, lower back and wrist etc. The objective of the study was to find the prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among computer engineering students and teaching-staff in Gulbarga city. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among the 319 third-year students and 79 teaching-staffs of computer science department of all 4 engineering colleges in Gulbarga from January2011 to December2011. The study-subjects were interviewed using pre-designed and pretested proforma including Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Appropriate statistical tests are applied. Results: Out of 398 study subjects majority (75.37%) were 20-22 years age studying B.E Computer science. The most disabling MSDs affecting study subjects were upper back 67 (16.83%), lower back 64 (16.08%), neck 51 (12.81%) and wrists/hand 34 (8.54%) which was statistically significant (χ²= 53.14, 64.514, 9.452, p<0.001). Conclusions: Majority of study subjects (31.16%) suffered at least 1 disabling episode of MSDs causing poor classroom performance which can be prevented by multidisciplinary approach. Implications by multidisciplinary approach RSI symptoms could be reduced by 40%.