Abstract
Back pain is the main reason of reduced activity and productivity as well as decreased class attendance among college students. Therefore, it is crucial for medical school faculty to recognize the potentially modifiable back pain risk factors among their students and prepare early supportive and preventive interventional measures, especially when considering that back pain could affect students' mental health, physical health, and overall quality of life. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of back pain among medical students in Al-Madinah Province in Saudi Arabia and investigate the factors associated with a higher prevalence of back pain. Using a self-reported questionnaire, this cross-sectional study collected data on back pain prevalence and associated risk factors. The survey was distributed through social media platforms. The chi-square test was used to identify risk factors significantly associated with back pain, and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors for back pain among medical students. Data analysis from 712 participants showed that the overall prevalence of back pain among medical students in Al-Madinah Province in Saudi Arabia was 58.8%. Female sex was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of back pain (62.1%) than male sex (51.4%). Marital status, socioeconomic status, academic year, occupation, chronic diseases, and medication use were predictive of back pain, whereas neither age nor nationality significantly affected the prevalence of back pain.