Abstract
Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) are painful and/or severe discomfort that individuals experience as a result of work-related activities in the musculoskeletal system that may include muscles, bone, joints, tendons or ligaments. Research shows that medical students in universities are vulnerable to WRMSD as a result of various factors including study regimes, the demands of practical departments, ergonomic factors and stress among others. Purpose The main aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) amongst undergraduate Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Emergency Medical Care (EMC) and Podiatry students at the University of Johannesburg as well as the type of MSD experienced by these students. The secondary aims of the study are to determine if the MSDs becomes chronic (lasting longer than three months) and to identify different exposures of MSD risks among students in the four departments above. Method All undergraduate Chiropractic, Homeopathy, EMC and Podiatry students at the University of Johannesburg were invited to participate in the research study. It was estimated that there were 650 students in these departments and a response rate of 234 students would be needed to represent the undergraduate students and to draw conclusions as this would allow for a 95% confidence margin. Results The study found a 91.7% lifetime prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among the surveyed students, with Chiropractic students having the highest group prevalence of 99.2% followed by EMC, Podiatry and Homeopathy students with 97.9%, 85.2% and 82.2% respectively. Body regions where the highest number of students felt pain were the neck (77,0%), low back (73.8%) and the shoulders (65.8%). The students also faced more MSD risk factors than found in previous studies. The views that Chiropractic and EMC students had the highest MSD prevalence as well as exposures to MSD risk factors were widely shared in the literature. Conclusion This study carried out as a primary research on the prevalence of MSDs among undergraduate Health Science students at the University of Johannesburg was able to convincingly meet its research aims. It vi was able to identify the overall MSD prevalence among Health Science students as well as department-related prevalence rates on the same problem. The study was able to move away from the generalisation that Health Science students at the University of Johannesburg were exposed to MSDs and their risk factors in a similar fashion. The study is therefore expected to help in the development of both general and department specific interventions on the prevention and treatment of MSDs among students in the respective departments. Also, importantly, the study adds to the body of knowledge on MSDs amongst Health Science students from a South African perspective. Considering that no previous studies provide information on how Homeopathy students are affected by MSDs, the study is invaluable.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)