Prevalence of Neck Pain and Its Different Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Students of Sargodha Medical College

Abstract

Aim of Study: To find the prevalence of neck pain variation among undergraduate medical students of different academic years also exploring association of different study posture, study hours and different mode of study with neck pain among undergraduate medical students. Study Design: Observational Study Methodology: The study was conducted in Sargodha Medical College. 500 undergraduate students fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria using self-created questionnaire (approved by University of Sargodha) to observe prevalence of self-reported neck pain symptoms & disability. Results: This study concluded that out of 200 undergraduate medical students of Sargodha medical college 38% had neck pain. Out of these students 64.5% had acute neck pain while 35.5% had chronic neck pain, more prevalent in female students than in males having a percentage of 67% in females and 33% in males. Neck pain is more common among senior most (final year) students i.e. 39.5% due to increased study hours. A remarkable but unexplained finding was 21.1% incidence among 1st year students. A gradual rise in percentage of students suffering from neck pain is seen from 2nd year to final year students. Maximum time one can study without pain by 36.8% students was 2-4 hours. 26.3% could study for 4-6 hours, in 25% neck pain starts even with less than 2 hours of study while only 11.8% students are capable of studying for more than 6 hours after which they also start experiencing pain. Moreover, studying posture 72.4% reported that they study in lying position while 17.1% used to assume table / chair sitting and 10.5% study in floor sitting position. Higher percentage among subjects who assume lying positioning suffered from neck pain. Finally, 81.6% of target population having neck pain used books while rest 18.4% used other devices like computer/ laptop or tablet most of the times for study. Conclusion: All the findings of this study strongly supports the hypothesis that neck pain is common in undergraduate medical students and showed association with posture of study, academic year, continuous study hours, mode of study