Neck and Low Back Pain in Medical Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Официальное название

The Prevalence of Neck and Low Back Pain in Medical Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Обзор

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of neck and low back pain in medical students enrolled at the University of the West Indies, Mona; to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice of good spine health and to determine the outcome of a standardised spine exercise program on medical students experiencing neck and low back pain, using a prospective randomised control design.

Подробное описание

There is a surfeit of literature on musculoskeletal pain especially that of neck and low back pain, which are commonly associated with lifestyle practices including varied occupations that affect individuals of all ages.

Medical students in the clinical years of training are more likely to be involved in prolonged and strenuous activities such as standing during ward rounds, bending forward to examine patients and occasionally engaging in manual handling of patients. During the early phase of preclinical training, medical students primarily sit for extended periods in lectures, use computers or tablets, or study in the library while completing assignments. These practices may all contribute to the increased risk of developing neck and low back pain among other musculoskeletal problems, especially in instances where the strength and stability of the spine is not maintained and safe spine precautions are not taken.

To the researcher's knowledge, there is no published study in Jamaica, or in the wider Caribbean, which looks at the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain -- specifically neck and low back pain in medical students. This study aims to determine the prevalence of neck and low back pain in medical students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, as well as to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice toward good spine health in preventing neck and low back pain.

Using a prospective randomised control study model for students experiencing neck and low back pain, this study will evaluate the outcome of a standardised spine exercise program in participants over an eight (8) week period. These participants will be randomly assigned to the clinical control group (Group A), which will receive no intervention, or the intervention group (Group B), which will follow a standardised spine exercise program over the stipulated period. Data will be collected using Questionnaires A and B, the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The outcomes of both groups will then be compared to determine the program's effectiveness in reducing discomfort and promoting better knowledge, attitude and practice towards spine health among medical students.

The identity of all participants will be protected and will only be identified by an assigned study number. Basic demographic information, presenting complaints and outcome information will be obtained for the purposes of the study. All data will be managed securely using REDCap, a password-protected, web-based platform compliant with national data protection standards. Data exported for analysis will be handled using SPSS software, ensuring confidentiality is maintained throughout. All records will be securely destroyed three years after study completion.

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое Clinical Control Group (Group A)
  The participants who reported the presence of neck or low back pain and were assigned to the clinical control group (Group A) after randomisation will not receive the intervention of an exercise program. The interventional group (Group B) will be asked to keep the standardised exercise program confidential and not share with the control group (Group A). After eight (8) weeks, Group A participants will receive: the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) to assess for changes in
• Поведенческое Spine Exercise Program (Group B)
  The standardised spine exercise program will be provided in a handout and given only to the intervention group (Group B), and will include simple basic neck or low back exercises to be done three (3) times per week, as well as brief stretching exercises, to be done during periods of sitting for greater than sixty (60) minutes. The selected participants will be asked to comply with instructions on the handout. Participants who experience worsening of their symptoms, or who develop new symptoms wi

Первичные конечные точки

• Change from Baseline in the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) [Срок оценки: From enrollment to the end of treatment at eight (8) weeks]

Вторичные конечные точки (3)

• Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Musculoskeletal Problems of Neck and Low back Pain (Questionnaire A) [Срок оценки: Done at the time of enrollment (Baseline)]
• Change from Baseline in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Musculoskeletal Problems of Neck and Low Back Pain (Questionnaire B) [Срок оценки: From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]
• Change from Baseline in the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) [Срок оценки: From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• All students enrolled in the medical program at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica during the period October 1, 2018 to January 2, 2026.
• Individuals who express a willingness to consent to the study.
• Individuals who express a willingness to adhere to the standardised exercise program for the stipulated period.

Критерии исключения

• Individuals with a history of having spine surgery.
• Individuals who were previously diagnosed with spine pathology and currently receiving rehabilitation therapy.
• Individuals who express an unwillingness to participate in the study.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Да

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Открытое

Основная цель

Профилактика

Центры проведения

Jamaica · 2 центра

• Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex,The University of the West Indie — Kingston
• Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex, University of The West Indies-M — Kingston

Публикации

• Ehrlich GE. Low back pain. Bull World Health Organ. 2003;81(9):671-6. Epub 2003 Nov 14. PMID 14710509
• Punnett L, Pruss-Utun A, Nelson DI, Fingerhut MA, Leigh J, Tak S, Phillips S. Estimating the global burden of low back pain attributable to combined occupational exposures. Am J Ind Med. 2005 Dec;48(6):459-69. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20232. PMID 16299708
• Lis AM, Black KM, Korn H, Nordin M. Association between sitting and occupational LBP. Eur Spine J. 2007 Feb;16(2):283-98. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0143-7. Epub 2006 May 31. PMID 16736200
• Smith DR, Wei N, Ishitake T, Wang RS. Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese medical students. Kurume Med J. 2005;52(4):139-46. doi: 10.2739/kurumemedj.52.139. PMID 16639985
• Falavigna A, Teles AR, Mazzocchin T, de Braga GL, Kleber FD, Barreto F, Santin JT, Barazzetti D, Lazzaretti L, Steiner B, Beckenkamp NL. Increased prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapy students compared to medical students. Eur Spine J. 2011 Mar;20(3):500-5. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1646-9. Epub 2010 Dec 7. PMID 21136121
• Alshagga MA, Nimer AR, Yan LP, Ibrahim IA, Al-Ghamdi SS, Radman Al-Dubai SA. Prevalence and factors associated with neck, shoulder and low back pains among medical students in a Malaysian Medical College. BMC Res Notes. 2013 Jul 1;6:244. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-244. PMID 23815853
• Smith DR, Leggat PA. Musculoskeletal disorders among rural Australian nursing students. Aust J Rural Health. 2004 Dec;12(6):241-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00620.x. PMID 15615575
• Lorusso A, Vimercati L, L'abbate N. Musculoskeletal complaints among Italian X-ray technology students: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. BMC Res Notes. 2010 Apr 24;3:114. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-114. PMID 20416101

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT03707288 · ECP 248, 13/14

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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