Musculoskeletal System Pain and Related Factors During Online Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic among Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Students, Turkey

Year 2022, Volume: 75 Issue: 1, 36 - 41, 30.06.2022

Seçilay Güneş

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and its related factors among Ankara University Faculty
of Medicine students during online education in the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to investigate the effects of the MSP on
students’ quality of life.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students who responded online questionnaire between April and
July 2021. The frequency of MSP (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-
Short Form), and depressive symptoms [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)], and the health status [Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36)]
of the students were evaluated.

Results: A total of 233 students (65.7% female) with a mean age of 20.1±1.5 years responded to our survey. By individual body side, the most
commonly affected body regions within one year were upper back (79.4%), neck (71.7%), lower back (69.5%), and shoulders (60.1%), respectively.
Twelve-month MSP prevalence was higher in female students at the neck (p=0.01) and upper back (p=0.001). Body mass index, smoking, and time
spent on technology-based devices were not related to MSP prevalence. Physical activity level was significantly lower in those with upper back and
low back pain. BDI scores were found to be significantly higher in those with neck, upper back, lower back, and shoulder pain in the 7-day-period,
compared to those without. The SF-36 scores of those with MSP was found to be significantly lower than those without.

Conclusion: The prevalence of MSP was very high among medical students receiving online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depressive
symptoms were more pronounced in students with MSP and it was evident that the MSP affected the quality of life negatively. Preventive measures
should be considered to reduce MSP in this population.

Keywords

Musculoskeletal Pain , Physical Activity , Depression , Medical Students , Online Education , Quality of Life , COVID-19

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval: This study was approved by the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Students Ethics Committee (date: 25/03/2021, number: 79366).

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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COVID-19 Pandemisinde Uzaktan Eğitim Alan Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinde, Kas-İskelet Sistemi Ağrısı ve İlişkili Faktörler

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 (COVID-19) pandemisi sürecinde online eğitim alan Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi öğrencilerinde
kas-iskelet sistemi ağrı prevalansını, ağrı ile ilişkili faktörleri belirlemeyi ve kas-iskelet sistemi ağrılarının öğrencilerin yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki
etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel olarak yürütülen bu çalışma, Nisan-Temmuz 2021 tarihleri arasında çevrimiçi olarak uygulanan anketi yanıtlayan tıp
öğrencileri arasında yapıldı. Kas-iskelet sistemi ağrısı, Nordic Kas İskelet Sistemi anketiyle, fiziksel aktivite düzeyi Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi-
Kısa Form ile, depresif belirtiler Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDI) ile, yaşam kaliteleri Kısa Form-36 Sağlık Anketi Anketi (SF-36) ile değerlendirildi.

Bulgular: Araştırma anketimize yaş ortalamaları 20,1±1,5 yıl olan toplam 233 öğrenci (%65,7 kadın) yanıt verdi. Son bir yıl içinde en sık ağrı görülen
vücut bölgeleri sırt (%79,4), boyun (%71,7), bel (%69,5) ve omuzlardı (%60,1). Son bir yıl içinde görülen boyun (p=0,01) ve sırt (p=0,001) ağrısı
kadınlarda anlamlı derecede yüksekti. Vücut kitle indeksi, sigara kullanımı ve teknolojik cihazlarda geçirilen süre kas-iskelet sistemi ağrısı ile ilişkili
değildi. Sırt ve bel ağrısı olanlarda fiziksel aktivite düzeyi anlamlı olarak daha düşüktü. Son 7 günde boyun, sırt, bel ve omuz ağrısı olanlarda BDI
puanları olmayanlara göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulundu. Kas-iskelet sisteminde ağrısı olanların SF-36 puanları olmayanlara göre anlamlı
derecede düşük bulundu.

Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde çevrimiçi eğitim alan tıp öğrencileri arasında kas-iskelet sisteminde ağrı prevalansı çok yüksekti. Ağrısı olan
öğrencilerde depresif belirtiler daha belirgindi ve ağrının yaşam kalitesini olumsuz etkilediği görüldü. Bu popülasyonda kas-iskelet sistemi ağrısını
azaltmak için önleyici tedbirler dikkate alınmalıdır.

Keywords

Kas İskelet Sistemi Ağrısı , Fiziksel Aktivite , Depresyon , Tıp Öğrencileri , Uzaktan Eğitim , Yaşam Kalitesi , COVID-19

Project Number

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