title: Impact of musculoskeletal symptoms on general physical activity during nursing education.
abstract: Nursing education should prepare students for a lifelong professional career including managing clinical physical demands. Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as bodily pain, have been reported among nurses and nursing students but less is known about the impact of symptoms in daily activities. The aim was to explore the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms and their impact on general physical activity among nursing students. This cross-sectional study was based on a questionnaire to all undergraduate nursing students at one university. The prevalence of symptoms and physical impact during past 3 and 12 months was calculated for each study year. Odds ratio was analysed with logistic regression. Of 348 students 224 responded, 84% women, mean age 24.6 years (range 20-46). Of those 143 (64%) reporting symptoms during the past 12 months, 91 (64%) reported impact on physical activities. Most commonly reported were everyday activities such as transportations and prolonged sitting. The odds ratio for reporting symptoms was 1.8 for year 2 (95% CI: 0.9-3.5), and 4.7 for year 3 (95% CI: 2.1-10.7). The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was high among nursing students and higher the final study year and not only resulted in discomfort but had an impact on the students' general physical activities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden. Electronic address: sofia.backaberg@lnu.se.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Backåberg
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden. Electronic address: mikael.rask@lnu.se.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rask
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden. Electronic address: david.brunt@lnu.se.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brunt
authors.affiliation: Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden; Department of Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: christina.gummesson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gummesson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activity limitation; Musculoskeletal system; Nursing students; Physical performance; Prevalence