Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Quality of Life in Healthcare Students

Abstract

Low back pain is a health problem that can harm several factors related to daily life and work for the entire population. The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of low back pain and quality of life in health students. Descriptive study with a cross-sectional method composed of 74 students enrolled in nine courses related to the health area at a private higher education institution. They were assessed using the participants' general characteristics questionnaire, the Oswestry 2.0 questionnaire and the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. The majority of participants were female, aged between 20 and 30 years old, single, full-time and evening students and studying Physiotherapy and Medicine. 68.9% reported remaining in a sitting position throughout the day, 81.1% had already had attacks of low back pain during the graduation period and 10.8% were already using analgesic medication due to the presence of low back pain. The SF-36 questionnaire presented domain values ​​between 45 and 63 points. 87.8% of students were classified by the Oswestry 2.0 index as having minimal lumbar disability, 10.9% with moderate disability and 1.3% with severe disability. Most health students have a history of low back pain, but with limitations considered low