Abstract
BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is common, affecting 58–84% of adults at some point. In benign cases, misinformation can lead to harmful coping strategies and prolonged recovery time. Deyo has identified seven ‘Myths of Back Pain’ as misconceptions commonly seen in clinical practice of which doctors-in-training should be aware. We sought to determine medical students’ baseline knowledge of the prognosis and management of LBP compared to the general public and to dispel the ‘Myths of Back Pain’.MethodsWe carried out a cross-sectional study of medical students (pre-clinical and clinical) at the National University of Ireland, Galway where students completed a questionnaire outlining the seven ‘Myths of Back Pain’. Final year students completed the survey before and after a seminar on LBP. Students’ results were compared with a random sample of the public who attended Galway University Hospital.ResultsTwo hundred nineteen students completed the questionnaire (59% female, 41% male). The mean age was 21 years (17–32). The mean number of correct answers increased according to medical school year (premedical 3/7, first year 4/7, final year 5/7). A personal history of back pain and female sex were associated with higher scores. On average, medical students answered 4/7 questions correctly overall, compared to the public (n = 131) who averaged at 3/7. Final years dispelled one further myth after their LBP seminar.ConclusionsCommon misconceptions around LBP are prevalent among medical students and the general public. It is important that medical school curricula address these issues as part of their musculoskeletal programme.
Highlights
Low back pain (LBP) is common, affecting 58–84% of adults at some point
A total of 219/300 medical students completed the questionnaire in its entirety including 65 pre-medical, 74 first year and 80 final year students
The mean number of questions answered correctly increased according to medical school year including 3.25 for pre-medical students, 3.54 for first year medical students, and 4.66 for final year students (p < 0.0001)
Summary
Low back pain (LBP) is common, affecting 58–84% of adults at some point. We sought to determine medical students’ baseline knowledge of the prognosis and management of LBP compared to the general public and to dispel the ‘Myths of Back Pain’. Low back pain (LBP) is common and the most commonly reported site of pain [1]. LBP accounts for a significant proportion of medical clinic visits. It is the most common presenting symptom to primary care following upper respiratory symptoms [3]. The majority of cases should be managed conservatively at the primary care level, in practice, many patients are treated for LBP in emergency departments. There have been no public health campaigns in Ireland to improve understanding of LBP
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