Üniversite Öğrencilerinin COVID-19 Pandemisi Sırasında Yaşadıkları Boyun ve Üst Ekstremite Ağrısı ve Engelliliği: Tanımlayıcı Araştırma

Abstract

AbstractObjective: Musculoskeletal system problems emerged in students who had to attend classes with a computer or smartphone during the weekly course hours, due to the fact that the universities providing face-to-face education switched to the online method of distance education due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Purpose of the study; To determine the severity of the pain experienced by the students, to reveal its relationship with disability, and to find the factors that induce pain and disability in daily life.Material and Methods: One hundred students between the ages of 18-25, who attended distance education for at least 2 academic semesters and met the study criteria were included in the study. After the Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire was applied to the students included in the study, the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Problems Quick Questionnaire (Q-DASH), Neck Disability Index and NRS tests were applied.Results: As a result of the Quick Questionnaire for Arm, Shoulder and Hand Problems (Q-DASH), 43% of the students included in the study had moderate disability, and according to the Neck Disability Index, 37% of the study group had complete disability. According to multivariate regression analysis, gender (p<0.05) and duration of computer or smart phone use (p<0.05) were the variables that most affected disability. A significant correlation was found between the frequency of pain and disability in the upper extremity (p<0.001).Conclusion: It is seen that excessive computer or smart phone use during distance education causes disability due to pain and joint movement limitations in the upper extremity and cervical region.