DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i01.008

Pages: 45-54

Background: Students tend to develop neck pain and low back pain due to prolonged sitting during lectures, completing assignments using laptops, lab activities, working on computers and playing video games. [1] This Musculo-skeletal disorder is mainly associated with ergonomically incorrect working positions. If the students continue with improper sitting posture they will develop many health problems which will affect their study life, lower productivity and early retirement as health professionals. The objective of the study is to assess the awareness, knowledge and practices about good posture disciplines and computer ergonomics among under-graduate students in a private medical college in South India. Material and methods: Pre-validated, semi-structured questionnaire, having 30 elements has been used for this observational, cross-sectional study. Data was collected from VIIth and IXth semester under-graduate students in a private medical college in South India. Results: In this study out of 294 students, 268 students participated. Most of the students (70.52%) knew about good posture. 66.41% students described it as maintaining the correct alignment with least strain to supporting muscles and ligaments whereas 21.64% described it as position that is comfortable to you. 80.59% students knew that posture is closely related to spine hence it is important to understand normal spine alignment. 55.22% students knew the correct sitting posture includes resting elbows and arms over chair or desk and keep shoulders relaxed. 68.65% students were sitting upright whereas 29.85% students were slouching. 89.55% respondents knew ergonomics is a science of comforting the workstation according to physiological aspect of human beings. Conclusion: Our study reveals majority of students were aware of good posture, but they are not applying it in their daily life.