Journal CME, November 2021: Prevalence/Incidence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors Among Nursing and Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis-Prevalence/Incidence

Prevalence/Incidence - article.pdf

Pdf Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted by Arnold Y. L. Wong et al., investigates the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) among nursing and medical students. Using the PRISMA guidelines and a thorough search across seven databases, the study included 16 relevant studies comprising 7072 participants. <br /><br />The pooled 12-month prevalence rates of LBP were found to be 44% for nursing students and 53% for medical students. Notably, the 12-month incidence of LBP among nursing students ranged broadly from 29% to 67%; no specific incidence data for medical students were available.<br /><br />Several risk factors were identified with varying levels of evidence:<br />- **Final Year of Study**: Strong evidence showed that students in their final year are approximately twice as likely to experience LBP compared to first-year students.<br />- **Anxiety and High Mental Pressure**: Moderate evidence indicated that anxiety and psychological distress significantly raise the 12-month prevalence of LBP.<br />- **Prior History of LBP**: Moderate evidence linked a history of LBP with a higher 12-month incidence of recurrent LBP in nursing students.<br />- **Gender**: Female medical students showed a higher prevalence of LBP than their male counterparts, supported by moderate evidence.<br /><br />Additional findings suggest that nonmodifiable risk factors, such as the year of study and gender, cannot be altered, but recognizing these factors can help universities develop strategies to mitigate the impact of modifiable risk factors like anxiety and psychological distress.<br /><br />The study underscores the high prevalence of LBP in these student populations and suggests implementing prevention and awareness programs to manage and reduce risk. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of different preventive strategies and further explore the causal relationships between these identified risk factors and LBP in nursing and medical students.

Keywords

low back pain

nursing students

medical students

prevalence

incidence

risk factors

anxiety

psychological distress

gender differences

preventive strategies