The Prevalence of Neck and Low Back Pain in FMSTRC Staff At the UWI Mona

NCT07194746 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CREC-MN.069,2025/2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of neck and low back pain among full-time staff at the Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex (FMSTRC), The University of the West Indies, Mona. It also seeks to assess staff members' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding spine health and to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-week standardised spine-specific exercise programme in reducing musculoskeletal discomfort among those experiencing neck and low back pain. The study will be conducted in two phases using a descriptive cross-sectional design followed by a prospective randomised controlled trial, in which participants reporting pain will be allocated to either a spine-specific exercise intervention group or a non-spine-specific exercise control group for comparative analysis of outcomes.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Back Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain; Low Back Pain; Spine; Work Related Illnesses; Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Keywords

neck pain; back pain; Musculoskeletal pain; low back pain; spinal health; work related musculoskeletal disorders

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)

EXPERIMENTAL

All 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.

Behavioral: Clinical Control Group (Group A)

Spine Exercise Program (Group B)

EXPERIMENTAL

All 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.

Behavioral: Spine Exercise Program (Group B)

Interventions

Clinical Control Group (Group A) BEHAVIORAL

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.

Clinical Control (Group A)

Spine Exercise Program (Group B) BEHAVIORAL

The standardised spine-specific exercise program will be provided in a handout and given only to the intervention group (Group B), and will include spine-specific 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.

Spine Exercise Program (Group B)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Cisgender men and cisgender women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• All full time academic/office/supplementary/ancillary staff employed to the Faculty of Medical Science, Training and Research Complex, UWI, Mona.
• Individuals with a willingness to adhere to exercise program given in a handout.
• Individuals age 18-65
• Individuals with at least 1 year experience in their current position.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with a history of having spine surgery
• Individuals previously diagnosed with a spine pathology
• Individuals currently receiving physiotherapy for a spine problem

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of The West Indies: lead
• The University of The West Indies, Mona: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex, University of The West Indies-Mona Campus

Kingston, Jamaica

Location

Related Publications (25)

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  BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Raosoft, Inc. (2004). Sample size calculator.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Back Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain; Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• 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.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Paula U. A. Dawson, MBBS, Diplomate ABPMR

CONTACT

1-876-927-1297; paula.dawson@uwimona.edu.jm

Shantelle B Peddlar, MBBS

CONTACT

1-876-927-1297; pmrphysiatryclinic@gmail.com

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 18, 2025
• First Posted: September 26, 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

Locations

JA (1)