Sadra Medical Journal

Comparison of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Faculty Members at Iranian Medical Universities Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Masoume Rambod 1
Nahid Karimi 2
Fateme Vizeshfar 1
Nilofar Pasyar 1

1 Associate Professor, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Nursing and Midwifery School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/smsj.2023.98192.1405
Abstract
Introduction: The multitude of responsibilities faced by faculty members, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, may potentially lead to musculoskeletal pain. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and compare musculoskeletal pain among faculty members of medical universities of Iran before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 professors from April 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected using a numerical scale and a checklist of musculoskeletal pain before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: The study results showed that before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, 84.7% and 87.7% of the professors experienced musculoskeletal pain in at least one part of their bodies, respectively and before and after the pandemic, 59.6% and 56% of individuals had experienced pain in two or three regions of the musculoskeletal areas, respectively. However, a noteworthy point was that after the pandemic, the number of people who had pain in four parts of body had increased. The findings indicated a significant increase in the intensity of lower back pain, hip pain, neck and shoulder pain. The frequency of pain in the nose and nasal septum, wrist, knee and jaw after the pandemic is significantly higher than before. 
Conclusion: The study results indicate an increase in the intensity and frequency of musculoskeletal pain when comparing before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among professors in medical universities in Iran.

Keywords

COVID-19
Academic Medical Centers
Faculty
Pain
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Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 11, Issue 4
Autumn 2023
Pages 454-461

Article View 101,349
PDF Download 112,869

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