Abstract
BackgroundThe main purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence, body distributions and factors associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among medical students in a private Malaysian medical college.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 232 medical students in a private medical college using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was a modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire focused on neck, shoulder and low back pain in the past week and the past year.ResultsTwo hundred and thirty two medical students responded to the questionnaire out of 642. Mean age was 20.7 ± 2.1 years. The majority were female (62.9%), Malay (80.6%) and in the preclinical years (72%). One hundred and six (45.7%) of all students had at least one site of MSP in the past week and 151 (65.1%) had at least one site of MSP in the past year. MSP in the past week was associated significantly with the academic year, (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.15-3.67, P = 0.015), history of trauma (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.3, P = 0.011), family history of MSP (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.9, P = 0.023) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (P = 0.028). MSP in the past year was significantly associated with computer use (P = 0.027), daily hours of computer use (median ± IQR (5.0 ±3.0), history of trauma (OR 7.5, 95% CI 2.24-2.56, P < 0.01) and family history of MSP (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.31-4.90, P = 0.006). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with MSP during the past week were a family history of MSP (p = 0.029) and BMI (p = 0.03). Factors associated with MSP during the past year were being in clinical years (p = 0.002, computer use (p = 0.038), and a history of trauma (p = 0.030).ConclusionMSP among medical students was relatively high, thus, further clinical assessment is needed in depth study of ergonomics. The study results indicate that medical school authorities should take measures to prevent MSP due to factors related to medical school. Students should make aware of importance of weight reduction to reduce MSP.
Highlights
The main purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence, body distributions and factors associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among medical students in a private Malaysian medical college
On multiple logistic regression analysis, factors associated with MSP during the past week were family history of MSD (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.2, p = 0.029) and increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.1, p = 0.03)
This study has showed that students in clinical years were twice as likely to have MSP during the past week (p = 0.015)
Summary
The main purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence, body distributions and factors associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among medical students in a private Malaysian medical college. Derek Smith published several studies (2003–2005) investigating the prevalence, body distributions and risk factors of MSP among Asian undergraduate nurse and medical students. In these studies, the prevalence rates were different from country to country. Smith’s studies among undergraduates showed differences in body distribution, shoulder pain was predominate among nurse students and low back pain was the highest among medical students. MSP studies which had been done among nurses at a workplace in Korea (93.6%) [8] and Japan (85.5%) [9] have shown a higher prevalence rate in comparison to nurse undergraduates in these countries. It is important to mention Hanvold et al [10] cohort study which reported MSP complaint at the first year of working life was three times higher than MSP complaint reported at baseline during student life
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