Do medical students believe the back pain myths? A cross-sectional study

Low back pain (LBP) is common, affecting 58-84% of adults at some point. In benign cases, misinformation can lead to harmful coping strategies and prolonged recovery time. Deyo has identified seven 'Myths of Back Pain' as misconceptions commonly seen in clinical practice of which doctors-in-training should be aware. We sought to determine medical students' baseline knowledge of the prognosis and management of LBP compared to the general public and to dispel the 'Myths of Back Pain'.

We carried out a cross-sectional study of medical students (pre-clinical and clinical) at the National University of Ireland, Galway where students completed a questionnaire outlining the seven 'Myths of Back Pain'. Final year students completed the survey before and after a seminar on LBP. Students' results were compared with a random sample of the public who attended Galway University Hospital.

Two hundred nineteen students completed the questionnaire (59% female, 41% male). The mean age was 21 years (17-32). The mean number of correct answers increased according to medical school year (premedical 3/7, first year 4/7, final year 5/7). A personal history of back pain and female sex were associated with higher scores. On average, medical students answered 4/7 questions correctly overall, compared to the public (n = 131) who averaged at 3/7. Final years dispelled one further myth after their LBP seminar.

Common misconceptions around LBP are prevalent among medical students and the general public. It is important that medical school curricula address these issues as part of their musculoskeletal programme.