Nigerian back school model: development and effect on industrial workers' knowledge of back pain and back care

Abstract

Back schools are health education programmes on back pain. Many back schools have been developed for different populations since 1969 when the first one was developed in Sweden, but none for the Nigerian setting. The need to develop a back school that would be appropriate for the Nigerian environment was therefore identified. As a step towards its development, this preliminary study was carried out to determine the effect of a back school model (BSM) on some Nigerian industrial workers' knowledge of low back pain and back care. The subjects were 110 workers of a soap industry in Lagos, Nigeria. A pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design was used. The BSM consisted of two 45 minute teaching sessions on structur e and functions of the back, epidemiology and causes of back pain, correct postures and demonstration of exercises that may prevent/alleviate back pain. Data on demographic information, low back pain (LBP) experience, knowledge of back structure and back care were collected using a questionnaire with closed ended questions, which was completed before, immediately after and 8-wccks after BSM administration. The results showed that the subjects* mean knowledge score increased significantly from an initial value of 16.1+5.3 to 24.0+ 5.6 (p<0.05) immediately after and 23.1 +3.9 (p<0.05) 8 weeks after BSM administration. Educational attainment had no influence on subjects' knowledge scores before or 8 weeks after BSM administration. Reported experience of LBP and duration on the job had no significant influence on subjects' knowledge scores before, immediately or 8-weeks following BSM administration. It was concluded that the BSM was effective in improving the workers' knowledge of LBP and back care. We believe that this finding justifies the effort to develop the Nigerian model of back school.