Low Back and Neck Pain in Nursing Students at The University of The West Indies
The Prevalence of Neck and Low Back Pain With a Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Spine-Specific and Non-Spine Specific Exercise Interventions in Nursing Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona: A Two-Phase Study
1 other identifier
interventional
400
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of neck and low back pain in nursing students enrolled at the University of the West Indies, Mona; to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice of good spine health and to determine the outcome of a standardised spine exercise program on nursing students experiencing neck and low back pain, using a prospective randomised control design.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Apr 2026
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 3, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
September 11, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 1, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 31, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 31, 2027
February 24, 2026
February 1, 2026
12 months
September 3, 2025
February 20, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change from Baseline in the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ)
The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire measures the frequency, discomfort and interference with work due to musculoskeletal pain, as reported by participants. The individually reported frequency score is then multiplied by the discomfort score and by the interference score to determine overall severity of pain experienced. This tallied score is then classified by severity into: no discomfort (0), mild (1 to 4.5), moderate (5 to 14), severe (15 - 45) and very severe (45 or higher). All participants will complete this assessment upon enrollment, as well as after an eight (8) week period of treatment, to evaluate any changes in their reported scores.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at eight (8) weeks
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Musculoskeletal Problems of Neck and Low back Pain (Questionnaire A)
Done at the time of enrollment (Baseline)
Change from Baseline in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Musculoskeletal Problems of Neck and Low Back Pain (Questionnaire B)
From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Study Arms (2)
Clinical Control (Group A)
EXPERIMENTALAll participants will complete the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) to assess the frequency, discomfort and interference with work due to musculoskeletal pain; the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to assess for perceived pain; as well as Questionnaire A to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice towards musculoskeletal problems of neck or low back pain. Participants who are found to have neck or low back pain will be randomised into two (2) groups: a clinical control group (Group A) and an intervention group (Group B). Group A will be given a non-spine specific exercise program over an eight (8) week period after which time, participants will be reassessed using the CMDQ and NRS, as well as a Questionnaire B to evaluate for changes in their knowledge, attitude and practice towards musculoskeletal problems of the neck and low back pain.
Spine Exercise Program (Group B)
EXPERIMENTALAll participants will complete the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) to assess the frequency, discomfort and interference with work due to musculoskeletal pain; the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to assess for perceived pain; as well as Questionnaire A to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice towards musculoskeletal problems of neck or low back pain. Participants who are found to have neck or low back pain will be randomised into two (2) groups: a clinical control group (Group A) and an intervention group (Group B). Group B will be given a standardised spine-specific exercise program over an eight (8) week period, after which time they will be be reassessed using the CMDQ and NRS, as well as Questionnaire B to evaluate for changes in their knowledge, attitude and practice towards musculoskeletal problems of the neck and low back pain, having received the intervention.
Interventions
The participants who reported the presence of neck or low back pain and were assigned to the clinical control group (Group A) after randomisation will receive a non-spine specific exercise program provided in a handout. The interventional group (Group B) will be asked to keep the standardised spine-specific exercise program confidential and not share with the control group (Group A). After eight (8) weeks, Group A participants will receive: the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) to assess for changes in the frequency, discomfort and interference with work due to musculoskeletal pain; a Questionnaire B, to ascertain any changes in their pain level using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS); as well as their knowledge, attitude and practice towards musculoskeletal problems of the neck and low back pain.
The standardised spine-specific exercise program will be provided in a handout and given only to the intervention group (Group B), and will include specific spine basic neck or low back exercises to be done three (3) times per week, as well as brief stretching exercises, to be done during periods of sitting for greater than sixty (60) minutes. The selected participants will be asked to comply with instructions on the handout. Participants who experience worsening of their symptoms, or who develop new symptoms will be assessed as having an adverse outcome and will be withdrawn from the study and referred for evaluation and treatment if necessary.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- All students enrolled in the student nursing program at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica during the period October 4, 2025 to October 3, 2026.
- Individuals who express a willingness to consent to the study.
- Individuals who express a willingness to adhere to the standardised exercise program for the stipulated period.
You may not qualify if:
- Individuals with a history of having spine surgery.
- Individuals who were previously diagnosed with spine pathology and currently receiving rehabilitation therapy.
- Individuals who express an unwillingness to participate in the study.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex, University of The West Indies-Mona Campus
Kingston, Jamaica
Related Publications (15)
O'Sullivan PB, Phyty GD, Twomey LT, Allison GT. Evaluation of specific stabilizing exercise in the treatment of chronic low back pain with radiologic diagnosis of spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997 Dec 15;22(24):2959-67. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199712150-00020.
PMID: 9431633RESULTAriens GA, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM, Bouter LM, van der Wal G. Physical risk factors for neck pain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2000 Feb;26(1):7-19. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.504.
PMID: 10744172RESULTMandel JH, Lohman W. Low back pain in nurses: the relative importance of medical history, work factors, exercise, and demographics. Res Nurs Health. 1987 Jun;10(3):165-70. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770100308.
PMID: 2954190RESULTLumbar/Core Strength and Stability Exercise. Athlethic Medicine.
RESULTChou R, Huffman LH; American Pain Society; American College of Physicians. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Oct 2;147(7):492-504. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-147-7-200710020-00007.
PMID: 17909210RESULTSmith DR, Leggat PA, Walsh LJ. Workplace hazards among Australian dental students. Aust Dent J. 2009 Jun;54(2):186-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2009.01116_8.x. No abstract available.
PMID: 19473172RESULTLorusso A, Vimercati L, L'abbate N. Musculoskeletal complaints among Italian X-ray technology students: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. BMC Res Notes. 2010 Apr 24;3:114. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-114.
PMID: 20416101RESULTSmith DR, Leggat PA. Musculoskeletal disorders among rural Australian nursing students. Aust J Rural Health. 2004 Dec;12(6):241-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00620.x.
PMID: 15615575RESULTAlshagga MA, Nimer AR, Yan LP, Ibrahim IA, Al-Ghamdi SS, Radman Al-Dubai SA. Prevalence and factors associated with neck, shoulder and low back pains among medical students in a Malaysian Medical College. BMC Res Notes. 2013 Jul 1;6:244. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-244.
PMID: 23815853RESULTSolomon A, Wilson S, Meyer M, Sharma N. Prevalence of low back pain among nursing students compared to physical therapy students. International Journal of Nursing Education9(3):115, Jan 2017.
RESULTSmith DR, Wei N, Ishitake T, Wang RS. Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese medical students. Kurume Med J. 2005;52(4):139-46. doi: 10.2739/kurumemedj.52.139.
PMID: 16639985RESULTLis AM, Black KM, Korn H, Nordin M. Association between sitting and occupational LBP. Eur Spine J. 2007 Feb;16(2):283-98. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0143-7. Epub 2006 May 31.
PMID: 16736200RESULTPunnett L, Pruss-Utun A, Nelson DI, Fingerhut MA, Leigh J, Tak S, Phillips S. Estimating the global burden of low back pain attributable to combined occupational exposures. Am J Ind Med. 2005 Dec;48(6):459-69. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20232.
PMID: 16299708RESULTEhrlich GE. Low back pain. Bull World Health Organ. 2003;81(9):671-6. Epub 2003 Nov 14.
PMID: 14710509RESULTErdinc O HK, Ozkaya M. CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION,VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OFCORNELL MUSCULOSKELETAL DISCOMFORT QUESTIONNAIRE (CMDQ) IN TURKISH LANGUAGE. 2008.
RESULT
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Paula U.A Dawson, MBBS, Diplomate ABPMR
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Head, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Principal Investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 3, 2025
First Posted
September 11, 2025
Study Start
April 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 31, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 31, 2027
Last Updated
February 24, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-02
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
- Time Frame
- De-identified individual participant data and supporting information will be made available upon completion of the study and publication in a local journal. Data will remain accessible for three years following study completion.
- Access Criteria
- Requests must be submitted to the principal investigator with a brief research proposal and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Data will be shared via a secure interface, and participant confidentiality will be maintained.
De-identified individual participant data, including demographic data, pain scores, functional outcomes, and questionnaire responses, will be available to qualified researchers upon request for secondary analyses.