Musculoskeletal pain among male faculty members of the College of Medicine and College of Dentistry

Abstract

We aimed to establish the local prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among faculty members in Saudi Arabia and describe the patient's risk factors and preventive measures that may reduce its burden.An observational, quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and its risk factors among male faculty members in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, using a designed questionnaire based on the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Chi-square testing at a significance level of P < .05, was used for comparative analysis. SPSS version 26 was used for all analyses.Ninety responders participated in the survey analysis. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among faculty members was 77.8%, and the most common site of musculoskeletal pain occurred at two different sites of the three (low back, neck, and shoulder), with a prevalence of 38.9%. As for risk factors of musculoskeletal pain, only age group showed a significant correlation with the site of musculoskeletal pain (P = .024), where patients in the younger age group (25-35 years old) were at higher risk of lower back pain, while participants in the older age group (36 to 44 years old and 45 years or older) were at higher risk of musculoskeletal pain in two different sites.Musculoskeletal pain affects more than two-thirds of faculty members. In particular, low back pain is a common problem among faculty members. Age is a significant risk factor for the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain, with more than one site involvement in older age.