Neck and low back pain among medical students at UWI Mona
Official title: The Prevalence of Neck and Low Back Pain in Medical Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
Run by The University of The West Indies · NCT03707288 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a standardised spine exercise program helps medical students at UWI Mona who have neck or low back pain while also measuring how common these pains are and students' spine-health knowledge.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of The West Indies Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Kingston, Kingston and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2018 |
| Main results expected | January 2, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 10, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03707288 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are medical students enrolled at UWI Mona who have neck or low back pain, are willing to consent, and are able to adhere to the standardised exercise program.
✕Probably not a fit
Students with prior spine surgery or a diagnosed spine pathology currently receiving rehabilitation, and those unwilling to participate, are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The project first measures the prevalence of neck and low back pain among medical students at the University of the West Indies, Mona and collects data on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices about spine health. Students who report neck or low back pain are enrolled in a prospective randomized design and assigned to either a standardised spine exercise program or a clinical control group. Outcomes focus on changes in pain and function after the intervention and on differences in KAP (knowledge, attitude, practice) metrics across the cohort. The work targets medical students in Kingston, Jamaica and addresses a gap in regional data on musculoskeletal complaints in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the exercise program could reduce neck and low back pain and improve spine-health habits among participating medical students.
How similar studies have gone: Exercise-based spine programs have demonstrated benefit for neck and low back pain in other populations, though this specific Caribbean medical-student population is understudied.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. All students enrolled in the medical program at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica during the period October 1, 2018 to January 2, 2026. 2. Individuals who express a willingness to consent to the study. 3. Individuals who express a willingness to adhere to the standardised exercise program for the stipulated period. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals with a history of having spine surgery. 2. Individuals who were previously diagnosed with spine pathology and currently receiving rehabilitation therapy. 3. Individuals who express an unwillingness to participate in the study.
Where it's running
-
Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex, University of The West Indies-Mona Campus
Kingston, Jamaica Recruiting -
Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex,The University of the West Indies, University Hospital of the West Indies
Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Paula U. A. Dawson, MBBS, Diplomate ABPMR — Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
- Study coordinator: Paula U. A. Dawson, MBBS, Diplomate ABPMR
- Email: paula.dawson@uwimona.edu.jm
- Phone: 1-876-927-1297
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Preventing neck and back pain in teleworking office workers
This study is testing whether a training program and educational video can help office workers who work from home avoid neck and back pain over 12 weeks.
-
AI symptom checks before visiting physical therapy: does it change spine care decisions?
This study tests whether using AI symptom-checking tools like ChatGPT before a visit affects shared decision-making during the first physical therapy evaluation for adults with neck, back, or radicular spine problems.
-
Ischemic Compression Plus Home Exercise for Non-Specific Neck Pain
This study tests whether adding ischemic compression to a home exercise program helps reduce neck pain and disability more than home exercise alone in adults with non-specific neck pain.
-
Relationship between how much of the arm is missing and balance, neck/back pain, daily activities, and reaction time in people with a unilateral upper limb amputation
This study will see if the amount of arm loss relates to balance, neck and back pain, daily tasks, hand dexterity, and reaction time in adults who use a myoelectric or bionic prosthesis.
-
Hormones, Pain, and Exercise: Sports Bras for Full-Busted Women
This study tests whether specially designed sports bras can reduce neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain in full-busted women, and whether hormones, inflammation, or brain changes affect pain.
-
Common Pain Mechanisms in Migraine and Associated Neck and Lower Back Pain
This study tests how migraine relates to neck and lower back pain and whether shared central pain processing plays a role in people with episodic or chronic migraine who also have neck or lower back pain.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.