Musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life for Chilean teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic at the academic year-end.

Introduction: Schoolteachers have reported multiple demands contributing to poor perceptions regarding their quality of life and high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are few studies about the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life from the end of the academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Evaluate musculoskeletal disorders rates and their association with quality of life perceptions among teachers from the last academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants and methods: A total sample of 161 Chilean schoolteachers was included in a cross-sectional study musculoskeletal disorders prevalence was evaluated using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and quality of life was evaluated through the Short-Form 12 Health Survey Instrument. A logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life perceptions adjusted by gender, age, and contract type. Results: 98% of teachers have suffered from some type of musculoskeletal disorders during the last 12 months, and 64% have had six or more painful regions. Women showed a higher musculoskeletal disorders rate than men. The group of teachers with the most musculoskeletal disorders (≥p50) saw significantly greater risk of low scores on the physical (OR: 2.16; p < 0.05) and mental components (OR: 4.86; p < 0.01) of quality of life, regardless of gender, age, and contract type. Conclusion: High musculoskeletal disorders rates suggest that preventive and informative actions must be taken regarding these disorders in order to protect teachers' mental and physical health, considering the effects of the school year and the COVID-19 health crisis.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Quality of Life in Chilean Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Teaching professionals have reported multiple conditions associated with low quality of life (QoL) perception. Various studies have also reported high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). In this context, there are few studies regarding the association between low QoL perception and MSD suffering in teachers. Objective: Therefore, in this study the aim was evaluate MSD prevalence and its association with teachers' QoL perception. Participants and Methods: A total sample of 544 Chilean teachers were included in a cross-sectional study. MSD prevalence was evaluated via the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and QoL perception via the Short-Form 36 Health Survey Instrument. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between MSD and QoL perception adjusted for gender and age. Results: A total of 91% of teachers have had some MSD in the last 12 months, and 28.86% have had 6 or more painful regions. Females showed greater MSD prevalence than males. Teachers who reported no MSD had higher QoL scores compared to teachers with MSD. The group of teachers with the most MSD (≥p75) saw significant increases in the risk of having low scores in the physical (OR: 2.82) and mental components (OR: 2.65) of QoL. By contrast, teachers without MSD have a buffer effect for their QoL (physical OR: 0.2; mental OR: 0.44). Conclusions: High MSD prevalence suggest that preventive and informative actions must be taken regarding these disorders to protect teachers' mental and physical health, considering the multiple risk factors to which teachers are exposed given their work conditions in Chile and worldwide.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated With Quality of Life and Body Composition in Urban and Rural Public School Teachers.

Introduction: Teachers have been reported to be a labor group with high rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), stress, and strong deterioration of quality of life (QoL). However, little information exists about the association between MSD, QoL, and body composition in rural and urban teachers. Objective: The aim was to study the association of MSD with QoL perception and body composition of urban and rural teachers. Participants and Methods: Participants are comprised a representative sample of urban and rural public schoolteachers from the Valparaiso Region, Chile. MSDs were evaluated with the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for Musculoskeletal Symptoms validated for the Chilean population. QoL perception was evaluated with the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Body composition was measured via bioimpedance. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between MSD, QoL, and body composition, adjusted for age and gender. Results: A total of 88.9% (urban 90%; rural 87%) of teachers felt pain in some body area, 71.2% of them with limitations; 39% of teachers presented body fat obesity, with the highest rate in rural women. The body area with the greatest MSD prevalence was the neck and shoulders (68.6%). Significant differences were observed between teachers with >p75 of MSD (over six pain regions) and those with ≤p75 (six or fewer painful regions; p < 0.05) on six QoL scales and on physical health components (PCSs) and mental health (MCS) in urban teachers. However, rural teachers presented no differences. The association between teachers with >p75 MSD and low QoL perception was significant (p < 0.05) in PCS and MCS. Furthermore, the regression model presents a significant association between rural areas and low PCS perception. Conclusions: Urban and rural teachers present high rates of MSD and obesity. Teachers with higher rates of MSD have their mental and physical QoL affected, making workplace intervention in MSD necessary to prevent teacher health deterioration.

Association Between Chronic Health Conditions and Quality of Life in Rural Teachers.

AIM: The school teacher profession has been reported to be associated with an increased rate of health problems that can affect the quality of life (QoL) of teachers. However, there is little information about rural teachers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertension with the perception of QoL in rural teachers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of teachers from eight rural schools in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Obesity was evaluated by the percentages of fat mass (% FM) and abdominal obesity, and hypertension was recorded. The Short Form-36 Health Survey was administered to subjects to evaluate QoL. A logistic regression adjusted for age and gender was used to associate QoL with chronic health conditions. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of teachers presented abdominal obesity, 56% presented obesity evaluated by % FM and 33% presented hypertension. Thirty percent of teachers in the ≥45-year-old age group presented all three chronic conditions simultaneously. Teachers presenting abdominal obesity in the ≤44-year-old age group had lower scores in the mental health component (MCS) (p < 0.05) of the survey than the teachers in the ≥45-year-old age group. In addition, teachers in the ≤44-year-old age group who presented obesity scored lower in the MCS than those in the same age group without obesity (p = 0.004). The occurrence simultaneous of two and three chronic health conditions increased the risk of reduced MCS significantly (p = 0.015, OR 17.0, 95% CI: 1.741-165.90 and p = 0.003, OR 82.6, 95% CI: 4.58-1490.70, respectively). In addition, ages under 45 years old were associated with low score of MCS (OR 8.8, 95% CI: 1.565-49.698). CONCLUSION: A combination of chronic conditions affects the mental health (MH) of rural teachers. Although the association does not imply causation, these findings support the notion that teachers present early MH problems. This suggests that resources must be made available to detect early mental and chronic health conditions of rural teachers.

Percepción de los estudiantes de anatomía humana frente a un método de enseñanza y aprendizaje basado en la construcción de un modelo de pelvis / Perception of human anatomy students facing a learning and teaching methodology based on the construction of a pelvis model

RESUMEN: Este estudio describe la percepción de estudiantes de anatomía humana frente a la actividad de construcción de modelos tridimensionales (3-D) a escala de pelvis. Pocos estudios evalúan la percepción de los estudiantes frente a una actividad de enseñanza y aprendizaje con modelos 3-D. La actividad se aplicó a un curso de anatomía humana de la carrera de obstetricia y puericultura a los cuales se les entregó modelos de estructuras óseas de la zona pélvica a escala real para que incorporaran las estructuras anatómicas (ligamentos, músculos, vascularización e inervación), finalizando la actividad se les entregó un cuestionario de percepción. 60 estudiantes realizaron la actividad de construcción de modelo anatómico 3-D y además completaron el cuestionario. Se reportaron niveles mayores al 93 % de estudiantes que sintieron motivación, creen que fue un facilitador del aprendizaje y que la actividad fue bien planificada. Entre los aspectos negativos se registraron: el tiempo de trabajo y los costos involucrados. Dada la positiva percepción de los estudiantes frente a las actividades de construcción de modelos anatómicos, se considera que es una metodología adecuada dentro de los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la anatomía humana.

SUMMARY: In this study, the perception of human anatomy students faced with constructing a three-dimensional (3-D) pelvis model (to scale) was studied. Few studies evaluate the perception of students facing learning and teaching methodologies with 3-D models. The activity was performed with students from a human anatomy course as part of the obstetrics degree, in which models of pelvic zone bone structures (to scale) were supplied in order to incorporate the anatomic structures (ligaments, muscles, vascularization and innervation). Once the activity was finished, a perception questionnaire was taken. 60 students participated in the activity of constructing the 3-D anatomical model and also completed the questionnaire. It was found that over 93 % of the students felt motivated, believed the activity facilitated learning and also that the activity was well planned. Some of the negative factors that were reported included time taken and the associated costs. Due to the positive perception of the students involved in the activity of constructing anatomical models, this is considered to be a suitable methodology for use during the process of teaching and learning about human anatomy.