ABSTRACT

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, and risk factors of low back pain in students studying at a health university.

Methods:

The study was conducted on students of dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, and medicine faculties of Bezmialem Vakif University. The data were gathered using a 35-question survey. Five hundred and twenty students completed the questionnaire. Four hundred and seventy-one (90.57%) of them answered pain-specific questions. Visual analogue scale was used to assess pain intensity. The presence of low back pain and pain severity were determined as two dependent variables. p<0.05 was considered as significant.

Results:

Of the participants, 131 (25.19%) were male and 389 (74.80%) were female. Differences of low back pain incidence were significant between the students of medicine faculty and other faculties (p=0.004), between those who had weight exchange and nonweight exchange (p=0.023), and between those who were not pleased with the desk and those who were pleased (p=0.000). Pain intensity in female students (p=0.003); those with hereditary disease in the spine (p=0.022), and those with economical, familial, or school-related anxiety (p=0.001) were higher than in others.

Conclusion:

This study confirmed whether the risk factors indicated in literature were valid in the study university. Courses, which are devoted to risk factors, may be added to education programs to prevent problems related to low back that may occur because of attending classes.