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Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 04 18; 16(8)IJ

Abstract

Objective: To explore the potential classroom furniture mismatch with students' anthropometric measurements and back pain related to sitting for extended periods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on all twelve male and female intermediate and secondary schools located in Abha city. Anthropometric and classroom furniture measurements were assessed, and the mismatch was determined using standardized methods. Students were also screened for back pain related to long sitting at school. Results: A total number of 879 students was selected. The study revealed seat height mismatch in both intermediate, and secondary school of 84.3%, and 75.6%, respectively. Seat depth mismatch was 74.0% in intermediate schools and reached 84.5% in secondary schools. The desk height was improper for 94.1%, and 82.3% of students in intermediate, and secondary schools, respectively. The levels of mismatch differ significantly by grade level and gender. A prevalence of 10.8% of back pain related to long sitting at school was found. In multivariable logistic regression, males, intermediate school children, and the presence of buttock-popliteal length/seat depth mismatch were significantly associated with pain. On the other hand, practicing exercise was a significant protective factor. Conclusions: There is a prevalent mismatch between students' dimensions and existing schools' furniture. School furniture providers should take in consideration the average Saudi students' dimensions, while designing school furniture especially for males, and at intermediate schools, or provide schools with adjustable seats and desks.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Assiri A
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. aassiri@yahoo.com.
Mahfouz AA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. mahfouz2005@gmail.com. Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt. mahfouz2005@gmail.com.
Awadalla NJ
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. njgirgis@yahoo.co.uk. Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt. njgirgis@yahoo.co.uk.
Abolyazid AY
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. drzizous2000@yahoo.com. Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt. drzizous2000@yahoo.com.
Shalaby M
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. medhatshalaby57@gmail.com. Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt. medhatshalaby57@gmail.com.
Abogamal A
Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt. ahmedfathy15@yahoo.com.
Alsabaani A
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. dr.alsabaani@hotmail.com.
Riaz F
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia. fatima.riaz786@yahoo.com.

MeSH

AdolescentAnthropometryBack PainCross-Sectional StudiesExerciseFemaleHumansInterior Design and FurnishingsMaleProtective FactorsSaudi ArabiaSchoolsStudents

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

31003399

Citation

Assiri, Abdullah, et al. "Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 8, 2019.
Assiri A, Mahfouz AA, Awadalla NJ, et al. Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(8).
Assiri, A., Mahfouz, A. A., Awadalla, N. J., Abolyazid, A. Y., Shalaby, M., Abogamal, A., Alsabaani, A., & Riaz, F. (2019). Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081395
Assiri A, et al. Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 04 18;16(8) PubMed PMID: 31003399.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. AU - Assiri,Abdullah, AU - Mahfouz,Ahmed A, AU - Awadalla,Nabil J, AU - Abolyazid,Ahmed Y, AU - Shalaby,Medhat, AU - Abogamal,Ahmed, AU - Alsabaani,Abdullah, AU - Riaz,Fatima, Y1 - 2019/04/18/ PY - 2019/03/07/received PY - 2019/04/14/revised PY - 2019/04/16/accepted PY - 2019/4/21/entrez PY - 2019/4/21/pubmed PY - 2019/10/29/medline KW - back pain KW - classroom furniture KW - ergonomics KW - mismatch KW - school children JF - International journal of environmental research and public health JO - Int J Environ Res Public Health VL - 16 IS - 8 N2 - Objective: To explore the potential classroom furniture mismatch with students' anthropometric measurements and back pain related to sitting for extended periods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on all twelve male and female intermediate and secondary schools located in Abha city. Anthropometric and classroom furniture measurements were assessed, and the mismatch was determined using standardized methods. Students were also screened for back pain related to long sitting at school. Results: A total number of 879 students was selected. The study revealed seat height mismatch in both intermediate, and secondary school of 84.3%, and 75.6%, respectively. Seat depth mismatch was 74.0% in intermediate schools and reached 84.5% in secondary schools. The desk height was improper for 94.1%, and 82.3% of students in intermediate, and secondary schools, respectively. The levels of mismatch differ significantly by grade level and gender. A prevalence of 10.8% of back pain related to long sitting at school was found. In multivariable logistic regression, males, intermediate school children, and the presence of buttock-popliteal length/seat depth mismatch were significantly associated with pain. On the other hand, practicing exercise was a significant protective factor. Conclusions: There is a prevalent mismatch between students' dimensions and existing schools' furniture. School furniture providers should take in consideration the average Saudi students' dimensions, while designing school furniture especially for males, and at intermediate schools, or provide schools with adjustable seats and desks. SN - 1660-4601 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/31003399/Classroom_Furniture_Mismatch_and_Back_Pain_Among_Adolescent_School_Children_in_Abha_City_Southwestern_Saudi_Arabia_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -