Perceived impact of a smartphone application: Knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and intention to change an abnormal neck posture among smartphone-addicted undergraduates.

Objectives: This study explored the perceived impact of a smartphone app on awareness, knowledge, attitudes, help-seeking, behavior change, and intention to change an abnormal posture of the neck while using smartphones among undergraduates addicted to smartphone use. Patients and methods: This descriptive survey involved smartphone-addicted undergraduates recruited between February 2022 and July 2022. The self-administered questionnaires used for gathering the data were a smartphone addiction survey and a mobile app rating scale on app-specific query assessing changes in awareness, knowledge, attitude, intention to change, health-seeking, and behavior change. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 316 participants (218 females, 98 males; mean: 20.7±2.6 years; range, 16 to 35 years). One hundred forty-two (44.9%) of the respondents strongly agreed that the app improved awareness, while 143 (45.3%) strongly agreed that the app improved knowledge about the significance of addressing abnormal posture of the neck while using smartphones. One hundred thirty-two (41.8%) were of the opinion that the app could change participant attitudes, and 135 (42.7%) agreed that the app could increase intentions toward improving abnormal posture of the neck. One hundred eighteen (37.3%) participants agreed that the app could promote help-seeking for abnormal posture of the neck. Respondents' age had a negative weak correlation with intention to treat (r=-0.191, p=0.001) and help-seeking (r=-0.199, p=0.0001). Conclusion: Most of the respondents in this study agreed that the CerviTech app could increase awareness, knowledge, attitude, intention to change, help-seeking, and behavior change of abnormal posture of the neck while using smartphones, with significant impact according to the age of the respondents regarding the intention to change and help-seeking behavior.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and work ability among hospital nurses.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and work ability among nurses in South-west Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 135 nurses (126 females and 9 males) in tertiary, secondary, and private hospitals in Lagos state using 2 validated standard self-administered questionnaires. The instruments captured information on personal characteristics, and reported on WMSDs and work ability using the Modified Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Work Ability Index (WAI). RESULTS: The point and 12-month prevalence of WMSDs was 95 (70.4%) and 81 (60%) among respondents, respectively. Lower back pain (35, (43.2%) was the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Approximately half of the respondents (64 (47.4%) reported good work ability, and 125 (92.6%) reported that work ability was physically and psychologically demanding. The results showed a significant association between sex (p = 0.047) work status (p = 0.020) and work ability. There was no significant association between the 12-month prevalence of WMSDs and work ability of nurses in Lagos state (p = 0.406). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated good work ability, but a high prevalence of WMSDs among nurses in Lagos state. The job risk factors mostly reported by nurses were working in awkward and cramped positions. Furthermore, the work ability of nurses in Lagos state had no influence on the prevalence of WMSDs.

The effect of stabilization exercise on pain-related disability, sleep disturbance, and psychological status of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance and depression are becoming more recognized as important symptoms among individuals with chronic low back pain. This study evaluated the effect of stabilization exercise on pain-related disability, sleep disturbance and the psychological status of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). METHODS: A total of 26 patients (M/F = 17/9) with NSCLBP with a mean age of 50.0 ± 15.5 took part in this study. Participants were recruited from selected hospitals in Lagos state. Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the health research and ethics committee of Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Participants performed stabilization exercise for eight weeks consecutively and were assessed for pain-related disability, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance using the pain-disability index, hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the insomnia severity index at baseline, the 4th week, and the 8th week, post-intervention. RESULTS: The participants studied recorded significant reduction in pain-related disability (P = 0.001). There was also improvement in the sleep quality (P = 0.001), depression level (P = 0.001), and anxiety level (P = 0.001), post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that stabilization exercise is very useful in the management of sleep disturbance, pain-related disability, depression, and anxiety in NSCLBP patients.

Perceptions of physiotherapy as a possible career choice among prospective university students in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine the preferences of students in selecting physiotherapy as a career choice and the factors that play key roles in their selection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 297 subjects ranging from 14 to 21 years of age was conducted among prospective university students. They were recruited from seven secondary schools in selected local government areas of Lagos state using a purposive sampling technique. A 14-item questionnaire, comparing physiotherapy to 11 selected occupations on six dimensions, that is, level of physical stress, salary, usefulness to society, responsibility, social status, and personal recognition as well as investigating factors considered important in selecting a career, was adapted from relevant literature. The data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The responses of 184 males (62.0%) and 113 females (38.0%) were used in the data analysis of this study. Physiotherapy was ranked fourth in terms of level of physical stress, third in terms of salary, fifth in terms of usefulness, fourth in terms of responsibility, fourth in terms of social status, and fourth in terms of personal recognition. Overall, physiotherapy was rated as the fourth-most preferred occupation. Prospective university students perceived physiotherapy as having a high level of occupational prestige, rating it fourth after medicine, engineering, and law. CONCLUSIONS: The profession of physiotherapy is held in high esteem and is seen as a desirable career choice among Nigerian high school students.

Correlation among smartphone addiction, craniovertebral angle, scapular dyskinesis, and selected anthropometric variables in physiotherapy undergraduates.

OBJECTIVES: Smartphone addiction has been indicated to reduce the craniovertebral angle, thereby causing a forward head posture and increasing scapular dyskinesis. This study determined the correlation among smartphone addiction level, craniovertebral angle, scapular dyskinesis, and selected anthropometric variables in physiotherapy undergraduates. METHODS: Seventy-seven participants were recruited from the Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, through a purposive sampling technique. The smartphone addiction level was assessed with the short version Smartphone Addiction Scale (English version). Craniovertebral and scapular dyskinesis were assessed using the photographic method. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data at an alpha level of 0.05. RESULTS: The analysis in this study revealed that many undergraduates are addicted to using smartphones. There was no significant difference in the addiction level (p = 0.367) and in scapular dyskinesis (p = 0.129) between male and female participants. However, there was a significant difference in craniovertebral angle (p = 0.032) between male and female participants. There was a significant relationship among smartphone addiction, craniovertebral angle (r = 0.306, p = 0.007), and scapular dyskinesis (r = 0.363, p = 0.007) in male and female participants. CONCLUSION: A high level of smartphone addiction reduces the craniovertebral angle and increases scapular dyskinesis. Therefore, the smartphone addiction level should be assessed in all patients with neck and shoulder pain to plan appropriate management.

Reliability and validity of the Yoruba version of the Oswestry disability index.

CONTEXT: Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of disability, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a validated assessment tool for evaluating disability in LBP patients. Cross-cultural adaptation of the ODI is important because not all populations are proficient in English. The Yoruba language is an indigenous language spoken by 40 million people in the Western part of Nigeria and some countries in West Africa and Latin America. Currently, no validated Yoruba version of ODI is available. AIMS: The aim of the study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the ODI in Yoruba language for participants with LBP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The ODI was translated into Yoruba, and this translated version was analysed in terms of semantics and linguistics. Then, the Yoruba version was translated back into English and both versions administered to 160 participants with LBP. The internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, criterion validity and test-retest reliability were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation with significance set at P< 0.05. The inter-rater reliability was evaluated by two different observers and the intra-rater reliability was determined by the same observer, a week apart. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the Yoruba ODI with Cronbach's alpha was 0.97, the intrarater reliability yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93 and criterion validity assessed using Spearman's rank correlation was r = 0.92 for highest score and 0.63 for lowest score. CONCLUSION: The Yoruba ODI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing functional disability in LBP patients.

Incidence and pattern of injuries among adolescent basketball players in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Basketball is the second most popular sport in Nigeria after football and is commonly played by adolescents. Prospective studies on adolescent basketball players in Nigeria are lacking. Such studies will help to develop injury counter-measures. Hence, this study aimed at determining the incidence and pattern of injuries among adolescent basketball players in Nigeria. METHODS: A prospective observational study involving 141 adolescent basketball players (75 boys and 66 girls; with age range 15 - 18 years) who participated in the 2010 National Finals of the Nigeria Nestlé Milo Basketball Competition. Basketball-related injury data were collected by an assessor during the competition using a standardized basketball injury report form. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: A total of 32 injuries were recorded with an incidence of 22.7 injuries per 100 participants same for boys and girls. This is equivalent to 1.1 injury per match for boys and 0.9 injuries per match for girls. Jumping/landing was the most common cause of injury (28.1%, N = 9). Most of the injuries were at the lower extremities (75%, N = 24); with majority at the knee joint (40.6%, N = 13). Ligament sprain was the most common types of injury. The pattern of injuries among boys did not significantly differ from that of girls (P > 0.05). Most injuries (N = 13, 41%) occurred in the offensive half of the court and cryotherapy was the most frequently used treatment modality. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of match injury among adolescent amateur basketball players during a national competition in Nigeria was 22.7 injuries per 100 participants; equivalence of 1.0 injury per match. The pattern of injuries was similar in both genders and consistent with what has been previously reported in literature for adolescent basketball players. Exercise-based injury prevention programmes aimed at improving core strength and neuromuscular control at the lower limbs may help reduce the incidence of injuries.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian physiotherapists.

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapists are known to be prone to Work- related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) but its prevalence among physiotherapists in Nigeria has not been reported. This study investigated the prevalence and work factors of WRMDs among physiotherapists in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross- sectional survey was administered to physiotherapists in different parts of Nigeria using a 2- part questionnaire with items adopted from questionnaires used for similar studies around the world. Two hundred and seventeen copies of the questionnaire were distributed for self administration but 126 physiotherapists returned completed surveys for a 58.1% response. The data were analyzed using SPPS version 10 at alpha level of 0.05. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages and inferential statistics of chi2 were used as appropriate for data analysis. RESULTS: Reported 12- month prevalence of WRMDs among Nigerian physiotherapists was 91.3%. Prevalence of WRMDs was significantly higher in female physiotherapists (p = 0.007) and those with lower body mass index (p = 0.045). The low back (69.8%) was the most commonly affected body part, followed by the neck (34.1%). Fifty percent of the physiotherapists first experienced their WRMDs within five years of graduation and the highest prevalence (61.7%) was found among physiotherapists younger than 30 years. Treating large number of patients in a day was cited by most (83.5%) of the respondents as the most important work factor for their WRMDs. The most commonly adopted coping strategy identified was for the therapists to modify their position and/or the patient's position (64.3%). Majority of the respondents (87.0%) did not leave the profession but 62.6% changed and/or modified their treatment because of their WRMDs. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of WRMDs among physiotherapists in Nigeria is higher than most values reported for their counterparts around the world. The coping strategies and work factors of WRMDs among Nigerian physiotherapists are mostly similar to those of their counterparts elsewhere.