Work

Low Back Pain Characteristics Among Health Science Undergraduates: A Prospective Study for 2-Year Follow Up

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background and objective. Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders globally, significantly impacting quality of life across diverse populations. Despite its association with middle-aged and older populations, evidence indicates that LBP is increasingly prevalent among younger age groups. Health science students are considered a potential risk factor for LBP; however, longitudinal studies are scarce. This study aims to determine the risk factors for LBP among health science students over a 2-year follow-up. Methods. One hundred ninety-seven of the third-class health science students (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medical laboratory science, and Emergency Medical services) were contacted (May 2024). A self-administered modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and data about sedentary and physical activity behavior, as well as LBP/ or stress scores, were recorded. Results. A total of 172/197 (87.3%) respondents completed the questionnaire in the 2-year follow-up. Mean age of 25 ±3.5 (years) and body mass index (BMI) value of 23.5 ± 4.3 (kg/m2). About 49% (n= 84) and 20 % (n=34) of the participants had 1-month LBP and functional disability, respectively. No association was found between health science programs and the presence of 1-month LBP (χ²= 0.55, P>0.05). The logistic regression analyses found that males had a significantly lower likelihood of having LBP (OR 0.25, P = 0.03). Conclusions. This study shows a high prevalence of 1-month LBP (48.8%) among health science students at Zefat Academic College. LBP was over time, gender-dependent, and health science-independent. Keywords: Health science, students, low back pain, stress, females.

Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine

DOI: 10.3390/jcm15020684

Authors: Janan Abbas, Saher Abu-Leil, Kamal Hamoud, Katherin Joubran

Institution: Zefat Academic College

Language: English

Topic: Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137