Prevalence of Neck Pain and Associated Disabilities among Students who Use Computers

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is increasingly prevalent among computer users, leading to significant health concerns and impacting daily activities. Understanding the prevalence and associated disabilities of neck pain in this population is crucial for developing effective preventive measures and interventions. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of neck pain and associated disabilities among university students who use computers, and to identify the factors contributing to these conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months at Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore. A sample of 144 students from DPT, MBBS, BDS, and Pharm-D programs, aged 20-28 years, was selected. Participants included both males and females who used computers for more than two hours daily and had no history of cervical trauma or underlying medical conditions. Data were collected using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with descriptive statistics summarizing demographic information and inferential statistics examining associations between neck pain and risk factors. Results: The study found that 29.2% of participants reported no pain, 20.8% had very mild pain, 45.8% had moderate pain, and 4.2% experienced severe pain. Weak correlations were observed between neck pain and disabilities, with 33.33% of participants able to care for themselves without pain, 62.50% able to care for themselves with extra pain, and 4.17% finding personal care difficult and slow. Regarding headaches, 16.67% reported no headaches, 20.83% had slight headaches infrequently, and 62.50% experienced moderate headaches frequently. Conclusion: The study concluded that a significant number of university students suffer from neck pain due to prolonged computer use, with most experiencing mild to moderate pain. Preventive measures, including ergonomic interventions and educational initiatives on proper posture and taking breaks, are essential to reduce the incidence of neck pain and improve the quality of life for computer users.