Abstract
BACKGROUND: A considerable number of resident doctors experience musculoskeletal pain during their residency years. In this study, we seek to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, as well as its associated risk factors, among a sample of resident doctors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Internal Medicine Department of the Faculty of Medicine, with a total of 200 residents participating in filling in the paper-based questionnaire. A standardized Nordic questionnaire, a modified version, was utilized in our study. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 200 residents. They were between the ages of 24 and 29 years old, and 73% were females. 54% of all of them had at least one musculoskeletal pain site in the previous week, while 86% had at least one musculoskeletal pain site in the last year. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in the previous week and last year were a familial history of musculoskeletal pain (P= 0.0029) (P= 0.0002), respectively, and a history of trauma (P≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain had a high prevalence among these residents, especially females, those with a history of trauma, and those with a family history of musculoskeletal disorders. This major health problem should be known to medical institutions, and awareness programs are required, in addition to future multicenter and larger studies.