Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Associated Factors Among Medical Students at Nineveh University in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abdulhameed Alhadeethi; Hosny Elkhawaga; Mohamed H Khalil; Ahmed A Basheer

doi:10.7759/cureus.65770

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Associated Factors Among Medical Students at Nineveh University in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cureus. 2024 Jul 30;16(7):e65770. doi: 10.7759/cureus.65770. eCollection 2024 Jul.

Authors

Abdulhameed Alhadeethi^{1

2

3}, Hosny Elkhawaga^{4

3}, Mohamed H Khalil^{5

3}, Ahmed A Basheer^{6

3}

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, Ninevah University, Mosul, IRQ.
² Department of General Medicine, Al-Salam Teaching Hospital, Mosul, IRQ.
³ Medical Research Group of Egypt, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA.
⁴ Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, EGY.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY.
⁶ Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, EGY.

Abstract

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem encountered in medical practice, leading to limitations in daily activities and causing social and economic hardships. Objectives This study aimed to assess the prevalence of LBP and its associated factors among medical students at Nineveh University in Iraq. Methods Between December 2022 and January 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Nineveh University. A modified version of the Standard Nordic Questionnaire was used for data collection. Results Out of 308 students, 229 (74.4%) experienced LBP at some point in their lives. In addition, 209 (67.9%) reported having LBP during the last 12 months, 148 (48.1%) during the previous seven days, and 126 (40.9%) at the time of answering the survey. Factors significantly associated with LBP during the last 12 months were being in the fifth-stage academic year (p=0.047), family history of LBP (p=0.003), and history of trauma (p=0.006). On the multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with LBP during the last 12 months were family history of LBP (p=0.02) and history of trauma (p=0.01). Conclusions The prevalence of LBP among medical students at Nineveh University was comparatively high. A family history of LBP and a history of trauma were factors significantly associated with LBP during the last 12 months. Managing this health concern should be a priority for the administration of medical schools.

Keywords: cross-sectional study; iraq; low back pain (lbp); lumbar spine pain; musculoskeletal diseases; occupational health hazard; orthopedic disease; orthopedics and physical therapy; prevalence; spine injuries.