Distance Learning and Neck Problems During Pandemic Period

Distance Learning and Neck Disability Among Academic Staff During COVID-19 Period

For people who use computers a lot, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck are a common problem . It is generally agreed that the etiology of work-related neck disorders is multidimensional which is associated with, and influenced by, a complex array of individual, physical and psychosocial factors.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Neck Pain

Detailed Description

Academic staff work involves diverse activities, both in and out of lecture-rooms, designing course curricula, developing lecture and tutorial plans and materials, providing students with information in an interesting and understandable manner, setting questions, and marking examinations .These activities usually involve long periods of sitting and standing, placing a physical demand on the lower back, cervical spine and the vertebral column in general, thus contributing to neck and shoulder discomfort .Lecturers use computers extensively and are thus exposed to many of the same risk factors to which 'office workers' are exposed. Using a computer is associated with poor neck posture most often in a forward head position, which is thought to be one of the most common causes of neck, head and shoulder tension and pain .

Neck pain is costly in terms of treatment, individual suffering, and time lost due to work absenteeism . Effective performance of academic staff of the university is very important as the key factors to a successful day to day running of any university system .

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 300

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Cairo, Egypt, P.O. Box:77
    • Misr University for Science and Technology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 23 years to 58 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

• Both male and female working as academic staff at Misr University for Science and Technology.
• Age range between 25 to 60 years old

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least one year of work experience in the current position as academic stuff.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Spinal deformities or specific medical condition affecting the cervical spine (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, radiculopathy, tumors, infection and disc prolapse)
• History of spinal surgery
• Previous head or neck trauma

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck disability index	It is designed to provide information as to how neck pain affects a person's ability to manage in everyday life	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain severity	Pain severity will be assessed using an 11- point numerical rating scale , where zero = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain. Each participant will rate the pain perceived along the scale at the point which refers to pain severity.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Misr University for Science and Technology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen J. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. Eur Spine J. 2006 Jun;15(6):834-48. doi: 10.1007/s00586-004-0864-4. Epub 2005 Jul 6.
• Chiu TT, Lam PK. The prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain and upper limb pain among secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. J Occup Rehabil. 2007 Mar;17(1):19-32. doi: 10.1007/s10926-006-9046-z.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): September 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): September 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): June 14, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 16, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2021
• Last Verified: June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: COVID-19; Neck Pain; Online Learning
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/003211

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No