1Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Christian Medical College, Vellore
2Associate Professor, School of Engineering, University of Kansas, Kansas, USA
3Clinical Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Kansas, Medical Center, Kansas, USA
4Associate Professor, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas, Medical Center, Kansas, USA
*Corresponding author: Neena K Sharma, Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA, E-mail: nsharma@kumc.edudisciplines
Online published on 29 August, 2017.
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among nursing students at various recall time points and compare the rates with physiotherapy (PT) and engineering students. Data were collected from 214 undergraduate and graduate students using a prevalence questionnaire via REDCap. LBP prevalence rates were found to be high at all recall time points in all the three disciplines. Nursing students had similar 12-month, 30-day and 7-day LBP prevalence rates as the PT students while the engineering students had the lowest prevalence rates at all the time points. Students from all three disciplines attributed the majority of their LBP to prolonged sitting. In addition, lifting patients and sports activities were also listed as other major causes for their LBP. Lack of awareness of correct sitting posture (p<.01) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (p<.01) were the significant predictors of LBP among students. These results suggest that prevalence of LBP is high among professional students and LBP was more prevalent among the nursing and PT students.
Engineering, Low back pain, Nursing, Physical therapy, Prevalence, Students
