950 - Awareness About Low Back Pain Among Adults in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives: To assess awareness of LBP among Jordanian adults and identify predictors of higher awareness.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 18–65 years in Jordan (n=1,951), recruited via social media platforms. The survey collected sociodemographic and lifestyle information and included seven items addressing LBP risk factors and preventive measures (e.g., posture, lifting technique, stress, lumbar support). An awareness index (0–7) was created by summing endorsed items; internal consistency was modest (Cronbach’s α=0.60). Logistic and multinomial regression models estimated associations of gender, healthcare worker status, residence, and education with awareness items and index scores.

Results: Mean age was 30.9 (SD 10.7) years; 52.5% were female, 29.5% healthcare workers, and 79.1% urban residents. The mean awareness index score was 5.85 (SD 1.32; median 6, IQR 5–7; range 0–7). Using a median split, 72.1% were categorized as high awareness (≥6). Awareness was high for posture (94%), preventive actions (92%), lifting technique (92%), and ergonomic bedding (88%). Only 53% endorsed stress as a contributor to LBP, and 77% endorsed lumbar support. In adjusted analyses, males were less likely to endorse the stress–LBP link (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50–0.77), while healthcare workers were more likely to endorse both stress–LBP (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.35–2.12) and lumbar support (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.12–2.55). Healthcare workers also had higher awareness scores (β=0.28, p=0.003; aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.11–1.65). Age, residence, and education showed no consistent associations.

Conclusions: Among Jordanian adults, overall awareness of biomechanical risk factors for LBP was high, with nearly three-quarters categorized as high awareness. Recognition of psychosocial influences such as stress was limited. Healthcare workers demonstrated significantly greater awareness. These findings highlight the need for public education initiatives that emphasize psychosocial dimensions of LBP.