Assessing Back Pain, Healthy Back Behavior and its Cognitive Determinants among Pupils in Iran.

Aims: Back pain is an important public health problem and the leading cause of adult disability in the worldwide; that is on the rise among the adolescent population. This study concentrated on assessing the back pain, healthy back behavior and its cognitive determinants among ۵th–grade girls in Iran. Instruments & Methods: This was a cross-sectional school-based study conducted in capital Tehran`s region ۲۲, through the convenience sampling of ۶۱۰ pupils. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess demographic information, back care knowledge, self-efficacy, fear-avoidance beliefs, and behaviours. Descriptive statistical analysis included frequency and percentage. Crosstabs and chi-square tests were used to broadly assess the data related to the presence of back pain and identify factors associated with back pain. The data was analyzed by SPSS. Findings: In all ۶۱۰ fifth-grade female elementary school children were entered into the study. The results showed that ۲۳.۶% of pupils (n=۱۴۴) reported back pain during last week. In addition, only ۱.۸%, ۳۳%, ۱۸.۵%, and ۳۱.۶% of participants had a high level of the back care knowledge, selfefficacy, belief, and behavior respectively. There was a significant relationship between the back pain and back behavior (P=۰.۰۰۴); and between back pain and self-efficacy (p Conclusions: This study concluded that healthy back behavior as well as its main determinants should be enhanced among pupils

Keywords:

Cognitive Determinants , Healthy Back Behaviour , Back pain , Pupils