Background: The use of hand-held devices is becoming a global burden, especially among the youth. Its impact on individualsÂ’ health is not well established, particularly the neck and shoulder, due to their often-held position. This study aimed to establish the impact of the use of hand-held devices on neck and shoulder pain (NSP) among medical students.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students of Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, through a validated questionnaire assessing the information about demographics, the use of hand-held devices and their potential impact. The impact was measured on a 10-point Likert scale for each item.
Results: The prevalence of NSP in this study was 76.7% (n = 266). In univariate analyses, younger medical students (X2 = 6.824; p = 0.009) and being right-handed when writing (X2 = 13.289; p = 0.001) were related to having pain. In a multivariate analysis, older age was associated with a decreased pain [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.468; Confidence interval (CI) = 0.276-0.793; p = 0.005], while using a mobile device for 4-7 hours
significantly increased pain (AOR = 3.750; CI = 1.136-12.374; p = 0.030). Significant differences were detected in pain reduction score when comparing those students who took medication and those who used non-medication approaches to relieve pain (including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, heat, and massage) (all p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Both non-medical and medical approaches are effective in relieving pain, except for the use of opioids.
Key words: Hand-held devices, neck pain, shoulder pain, Qassim University, medical students
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