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Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is the most common form of musculoskeletal disorder and a crucial occupational issue among healthcare professionals that peaks among surgeons. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and the characteristics and identify associated risk factors among surgeons in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional method among surgeons in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Data were randomly collected using a self-administered questionnaire divided into demographic, individual, and occupational characteristics and prevalence data from different hospitals and cities. The subjects of the study were 208 surgeons working in different specialties. Results: Thirty-eight percent of surgeons were found to have back pain. The highest prevalence was found among general surgeons, followed by gynecologists. Surgeons with a longer mean duration of work experience had a significantly higher percentage of back pain sufferers. The presence of back pain, on the other hand, did not appear to be related to the surgeon's gender, dominant hand, specialty, or other work conditions. LBP was widespread in surgeons with higher work experience, a stable job position, older age, a higher body mass index (BMI), chronic conditions, who did not exercise, and who were not athletes. Conclusions: General surgeons have the highest prevalence, according to the results of this study. Appropriate measures should be adopted to avoid this occupational health issue. We emphasize the importance of performing a periodic examination and follow-up on the health status of surgeons' spines and providing educational information about LBP and the best ways to avoid it. We advocate an ergonomic examination of workplace conditions and regular counseling sessions to encourage people to use their backs more properly with correct posture.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: Children with strabismus may face difficulties interacting with their peers in elementary school. This study investigates the psychosocial effect of different types of strabismus on Saudi children's selection of a playmate. METHODS: Photographs of orthotropic children were digitally modified to simulate various magnitudes of strabismus. Orthotropic children with normal visual acuity viewed 18 sets of paired photographs and were asked to choose a playmate from each pair. Parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their socioeconomic background and to determine whether surgery should be indicated in strabismic patients for psychosocial reasons. Parents were also asked to rate their perception of seven personal characteristics of two images of the same child (one orthotropic and one strabismic). RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-three children, aged 3-15 years (mean age: 9.94 [3.6] years), were studied. Children aged ≤6 years were significantly more likely not to distinguish between orthotropic children and those with strabismus (P < 0.001). Out of 233 participants, 69.6% were significantly in favor of orthotropic faces as opposed to 30.4% (P < 0.0001). Children perceived esotropia as less disturbing than exotropia and hypertropia (P < 0.001). Smaller magnitudes of strabismus were significantly preferred over larger angles (P < 0.001). Parents judged strabismic faces more negatively than orthotropic faces on all seven characteristics. Almost 88.4% of the adults thought that strabismic patients should undergo surgery for correction. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that children with apparent strabismus are perceived negatively and might be subjected to social alienation at a young age. Therefore, there is a need for strategies to address negative social bias toward children with strabismus and to enhance their peer acceptance in our society.
