Prevalence of Shoulder and Neck Pain Among Healthcare Workers in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia

Introduction Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have a tremendous impact on working people and are becoming a serious problem in the modern society. The healthcare system is regarded as having one of the most physically demanding jobs, and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries is high. Irrespective of their age, healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide frequently experience shoulder and neck pain. In our study, we sought to understand what initiates shoulder and neck pain, such as stress or environmental factors, and what causes shoulder and neck discomfort among Saudi Arabian healthcare professionals. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from 2022 to 2023, assessing shoulder and neck pain among healthcare workers in the central region of Saudi Arabia. An online survey was used, with 409 participants aged 20 or older. The questionnaire included socio-demographic data, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaire to measure shoulder pain and disability, neck Bournemouth questionnaire (NBQ) to assess neck pain, and quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS) to measure the intensity of pain. Results Of the 409 HCWs, 56% were males, and 56.5% belonged to the age group of 20-30 years. The prevalence of high-intensity pain based on QVAS criteria was 29.3%. The mean percentage of neck pain (32.3%) was slightly higher than shoulder pain (31.8%). There was a significant association between the level of pain intensity in terms of the total score of NBQ, SPADI score, and its dimensions. It is interesting to know that HCWs with associated chronic diseases had higher scores in all three questionnaires (NBQ, SPADI, and QVAS). Conclusion High-intensity musculoskeletal pain was relatively high among HCWs. It was found that neck pain affected HCWs more than shoulder pain. Furthermore, an increased pain intensity in the shoulder and neck was more frequently seen in HCWs with chronic diseases. More studies are needed to determine the causes and risk factors for neck and shoulder pain to help improve the healthcare system and patient care.