Musculoskeletal Pain Among School Teachers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, Pattern, and Its Risk Factors

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Impact on Job Performance Among School Teachers in Buraydah City

INTRODUCTION

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) pose a significant challenge to the well-being and productivity of individuals and various occupational groups, including teachers. Among teachers, the prevalence of MSD has raised concerns globally, impacting their daily activities and overall quality of life. Buraidah and Saudi Arabia, like many other regions, face the implications of this issue. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and associated risk factors of MSD among teachers in Buraydah, providing valuable insights into the extent of the problem and potential areas for intervention.

METHODOLOGY

 An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted for three months, from April 1 to June 30, 2023, using the Arabic version of the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire. This study was conducted in all schools in Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia. The study population was all schoolteachers (including principals, vice principals, etc.) in Buraydah City. The study analyzed responses from 648 teachers and 139 school workers using statistical tests, including chi-square tests and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

 The results indicated a notable prevalence of MSD among teachers, with a significant association found between age, gender, and major depressive disorder (MDD) and MSD. The study reveals that females are at higher risk of MSD compared to males, emphasizing the need for gender-specific interventions. Moreover, the presence of MDD is identified as a significant contributor to MSD among teachers. However, certain demographic and lifestyle factors, such as marital status, level of school, smoking habits, and fixed rest times, do not show significant associations with MSD. Although age and years of experience are correlated, only age is found to significantly contribute to MSD. Regular exercise and BMI also do not emerge as significant contributors, although a lack of exercise shows a marginal impact.

CONCLUSION

 This study's findings have implications for educational institutions and policymakers, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to address MSD among teachers. It underscores the importance of ergonomic interventions, gender-sensitive approaches, and mental health support.

Association Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Studying Hours Among Medical Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are one of the common health issues affecting people of various ages. The main risk factors for musculoskeletal pain are age, obesity, gender, level of education, psychosocial factors, occupational factors, decreased mobility and flexibility, and common factors such as consuming TV and video games. College students, especially medical students, are at a higher risk of these complaints as they have longer hours of studying than most faculties due to the competitiveness of their specialty. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between musculoskeletal pain and studying hours in medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to increase awareness of this problem. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. Data was collected using an online questionnaire. A total of 314 participants were included in this study. The demographic variables, studying hours, studying locations, and postures were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 314 medical students were included in this study. The majority were males (71.0%) and, the mean age was 22.05±2.13 years. Most of them were sixth-year students, and most of them reported studying between three and four hours (40.1%), with the most common studying location reported being the students' home or residence (79.3%). The number of daily studying hours had no significant effect on the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems. Conclusion There was no significant relationship between the number of studying hours and the MSK pain. Clinical trials could be used to evaluate the most effective approaches to alleviate MSK pain in medical students.

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among high school students: a cross-sectional survey in China

BACKGROUND

After the COVID-19 outbreak, many Chinese high school students have increased their dependence on electronic devices for studying and life, which may affect the incidence of neck and shoulder pain (NSP) in Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

To evaluate the prevalence of NSP in high school students and its associated risk factors during COVID-19, a survey was conducted among 5,046 high school students in Shanghai, Qinghai, Henan and Macao during the second semester and summer vacation of the 2019-2020 academic year. The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic characteristics, the prevalence of NSP and lifestyle factors such as sedentary behavior, poor posture and electronic device usage. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the possible influencing factors for neck and shoulder pain.

RESULTS

A total of 4793 valid questionnaires (95.0%) were collected. The results indicated that the prevalence of NSP was 23.7% among high school students. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (P < 0.05, OR = 1.82), grade (P < 0.05, range OR 1.40-1.51) and subject selection (P < 0.05, range OR 0.49-0.68) were risk factors for NSP in high school students. Sedentary behavior (P < 0.05, range OR 1.74-2.36), poor posture (P < 0.05, range OR 1.19-2.56), backpack weight (P < 0.05, range OR 1.17-1.88), exercise style and frequency (P < 0.05, range OR 1.18-1.31; P < 0.05, range OR 0.76-0.79, respectively), and the time spent using electronic devices (P < 0.05, range OR 1.23-1.38)had a significant correlation with NSP in high school students.

CONCLUSIONS

NSP is currently very common among high school students during the outbreak of COVID-19. Sedentary behavior, poor posture and other factors have a great impact on the occurrence of NSP in high school students. Education regarding healthy lifestyle choices should be advocated for to decrease NSP among high school students, such as more physical activity, changing poor postures and reducing the amount of time spent using electronic devices.

Prevalence and Predictors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Among Teachers in Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) afflicting the upper limbs with a prevalence of approximately 14.4% in the general population. Previous studies have noted the increasing prevalence of MSDs among teachers but have not investigated in depth the prevalence and predictors of CTS symptoms in this population. The aim of this study was to help fill this gap in the literature by investigating teachers working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods We conducted this cross-sectional study in Riyadh using an online survey. We distributed the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ) to schoolteachers in the city through the social media applications Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram. We assessed the respondents' symptoms using Univariate association analyses with a Wilcoxon rank sum test for the continuous variables and Fisher's exact test and Pearson's chi-squared test for the categorical variables. We assessed the independent risk factors for CTS by constructing multivariate binary logistic regression models and expressed the results using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results The sample for this study included 490 teachers. Among them, the prevalence of moderate to severe CTS symptoms was 40.0%, and self-reported CTS was 9.1%. The teachers who were female, relatively old, left-handed, retired, and spent significant time using a pen, keyboard, and/or blackboard were more likely than those who were male, relatively young, right-handed, and did not spend significant time using a pen, keyboard, and/or blackboard to self-report CTS and exhibit moderate to severe symptoms. Conclusions We found a relatively high percentage (40.0%) of CTS symptoms among teachers working in Riyadh. This finding suggests that any sign of CTS symptoms should be checked to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, which contribute to positive outcomes, particularly given the recent increase in such risk factors for CTS as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and high BMI in populations worldwide.

Prevalence, Patterns, and Risk Factors of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Diseases Among Teachers in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey

Background and objective Work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WMSDs) are one of the most common occupational health concerns among teachers. They refer to a variety of degenerative and inflammatory disorders that can be triggered by the work environment of the people affected. Teachers' health is substantially significant as it impacts their productivity at work. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, patterns, implications, and risk factors of WMSDs among teachers in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods This study involved a survey based on a cross-sectional questionnaire that was distributed to 404 random school teachers located in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Information such as sociodemographic characteristics, workplace characteristics, characteristics of WMSDs experienced, associated factors, and impact of the symptoms experienced was collected. Questions related to symptoms were obtained from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ). The collected data were then analyzed using the SPSS Statistics version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Among the participants, back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain were the most reported symptoms of WMSDs in the past 12 months, while elbow pain was the least experienced; 41.1% had pain, discomfort, or numbness that prevented them from performing regular daily activities. The regression analysis revealed a relationship between moderate to severe pain and a pain duration of more than 12 months (p=0.001). Additionally, those who were able to perform lighter work and were not having depression had a low probability of pain persistence and were able to carry out their usual work while experiencing pain (p=0.002). Conclusions In the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, WMSDs were commonly reported by school teachers. The prevalence of WMSDs among teachers was 41.1%. The pain was described as disabling and causing a negative impact on performance. The most common locations of symptoms were the back, shoulder, and knees. Risk factors for severe pain were female gender, sleeping for six to seven hours, and pain located in the neck shoulder, elbow, hand, thigh/hips, back, knees, and ankles. Furthermore, severe pain was associated with pain duration of more than 12 months, affecting sleep, causing anxiety, and mild depression. The impact of severe pain seriously affected the daily activities of teachers.

Long-Term Prevalence and Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders among the Schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are affecting up to 95% of teachers and are considered a primary occupational health hazard leading to absenteeism, early retirement, and lower quality of life and teaching quality.

Aim

The current study is aimed at exploring the prevalence and risk factors of MSDs among the schoolteachers in Hail, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted online among the teachers in Hail City using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Teachers were randomly selected from randomly selected high schools. Teachers with at least 1 year experience were recruited for the study. Descriptive statistics, Cochran's Q test, and binominal regression were used to investigate the prevalence of MSDs among such teachers and to determine if the percentage of MSDs differed by anatomical region and risk factor (one hundred forty-five males and 106 females filled out the questionnaires).

Results

The prevalence of MSDs in the last 12 months was 93.63% (235 of 251 teachers). Interestingly, 91% of the affected participants (214 of 235 teachers) complained of MSDs in more than one anatomical region. The most affected site was the lower back (183 of 251 teachers, 72.91%), followed by the shoulders (168 of 251 teachers, 66.93%), and the least affected sites were the elbows (45 of 251 teachers, 17.93%). The females showed a higher prevalence of MSDs than the males. Only gender was a significant risk factor for shoulder and neck MSDs (p < 0.02).

Conclusion

Overall, the findings of the current study suggest a high prevalence of MSDs among teachers, especially in the lower back and shoulders. The affected teachers should learn more about biomechanics and ergonomics and should engage in exercise to improve their health. Future studies should focus on identifying the biomechanical and ergonomic risk factors of MSDs and on designing MSD prevention programmes to reduce the burden of MSDs.