Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is defined as any recurring lumbar pain between the rib cage and the buttocks present at the time of the study. This study investigated the point prevalence, associated risk factors, and degree of disability of LBP among medical students at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 331 medical students using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; used to gauge LBP degree of disability) supplemented with demographic and lifestyle questions. The respondents were mostly first-year, female, and between the ages of 17 and 21 years. Results: Analysis uncovered that Female students, extended durations of phone usage, and those who did not exercise were more likely to experience LBP (p < 0.001; p = 0.042; p = 0.001). A higher degree of disability was associated with participants older than 21 years, who used their devices for extended periods, and who slept less (β = 0.170, p = 0.006). While most students experienced LBP (73.4%), the ODI revealed that the majority were not deemed disabled (56.9%). Factors associated with LBP prevalence were not necessarily associated with a higher degree of disability per the ODI. Conclusions: LBP is highly prevalent among medical students, with several associated risk factors. Female medical students remain a significant at-risk group. These findings highlight the need for a broader intervention against LBP, such as ergonomic and lifestyle improvements that consider a multitude of factors.

Peer-assisted learning enhances conceptual understanding in anatomy education; however, its impact on structured cognitive outcomes remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of the Peer-Assisted Uniform Learning (PAUL) program on musculoskeletal (MSK) anatomy objective structured practical examination (OSPE) performance. We used a cross-sectional, controlled, observational design to analyse the OSPE scores of 304 students. Seventy-nine students who attended at least two PAUL sessions formed the exposure group, while 225 served as the control group. The PAUL participants alternated between tutor and tutee roles during the sessions. The OSPE items were divided into Cluster 1 (identification/recall) and Cluster 2 (application/analysis). A validated survey was used to assess the participants perceived learning outcomes and satisfaction. PAUL participants outperformed non-participants in Cluster 1 (78.4 vs. 73.7, p = 0.01) and Cluster 2 (87.2 vs. 82.8, p = 0.02). The relative gain was greater for application-based items (interaction effect: F = 8.37, p = 0.004), supporting the program's effect on higher-order reasoning. Survey responses (91 % response rate) showed high satisfaction (mean 4.3 ± 0.6) and perceived learning gains (mean 4.1 ± 0.7); 85 % of students reported improved understanding of the subject. The PAUL program, grounded in social constructivist principles and supported by faculty oversight, improved performance in both recall and application of MSK anatomy OSPE items, with the strongest impact on application-based learning.

This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of Lower Back Pain (LBP) among medical students of Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional style was employed where 331 medical students were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) supplemented with demographic and lifestyle questions. Data analysis allowed identification of LBP-risk factor relationships. The study revealed a 73.4% prevalence of LBP among Alfaisal University medical students with a 4.61 average severity. Female students, those who spent long hours on computers, and those who did not exercise were more likely to experience LBP. Higher disability degree was associated with participants aged >21, used their devices for extended periods, and insufficient sleep. LBP is highly prevalent with several risk factors existing. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as ergonomic/lifestyle improvements and reduced device use.