Musculoskeletal pain intensity and perceptions during distance learning: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Education Technology
• Ergonomics

Background:

• The rise of online distance education (ODE) necessitates understanding its health impacts on students.
• Increased screen time in ODE correlates with emerging screen-related health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of block vs. traditional scheduling in ODE on undergraduate students' musculoskeletal pain.
• To explore student perceptions of block scheduling in the context of online learning.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 177 undergraduate students.
• Quantitative analysis of pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale) and qualitative analysis of student perceptions via online survey.
• Paired t-test used to compare pain levels between block and traditional scheduling.

Main Results:

• Students under block scheduling reported significantly higher pain in the trunk and upper limbs (large effect size).
• Clinically meaningful pain levels were observed in the upper (5.73±2.75), lower (5.59±2.87), and neck (4.92±2.60) regions.
• Positive perceptions of block scheduling included time savings (43%) and subject integrity (26%), while negative aspects included distraction (56%), fatigue (33%), and pain (17%).

Conclusions:

• Block scheduling in ODE may lead to clinically significant neck and back pain.
• Strategies to mitigate pain in distance learning include shortening course durations and promoting student mobility.