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Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese medical students
Derek R Smith1, Ning Wei, Tatsuya Ishitake
1Department of Hazard Assessment, National Institute of Industrial Health, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan. smith@niih.go.jp
The Kurume Medical Journal
|April 28, 2006
Summary
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) are common among Chinese medical students, affecting over 67% annually. High mental pressure significantly increases the risk of low back pain in these students.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) pose a significant health concern globally.
- Understanding MSD prevalence in student populations is crucial for early intervention.
- Chinese medical students represent a unique demographic for studying occupational health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and distribution of MSD among Chinese medical students.
- To identify specific body sites most affected by MSD.
- To explore potential risk factors, such as mental pressure, associated with MSD.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to Chinese medical students.
- A total of 207 valid responses were collected, achieving a 92.4% response rate.
- Data analysis focused on period-prevalence, affected body sites, and correlation with mental pressure.
Main Results:
- The annual period-prevalence of MSD was 67.6%, with 31.9% reporting ongoing symptoms.
- The lower back (40.1%), neck (33.8%), and shoulders (21.7%) were the most commonly affected areas.
- Students reporting high mental pressure were 2.9 times more likely to experience low back pain (OR 2.9).
Conclusions:
- Chinese medical students experience a considerable risk of MSD, though likely lower than practicing physicians.
- MSD impacts students' daily lives, leading to missed school days.
- Further research, including longitudinal studies, is recommended to understand MSD mechanisms and contributing factors in this population.