Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background LBP is common among chiropractic students; however, little is known about its etiology. Therefore, we explored the association between individual characteristics and low back pain (LBP) in chiropractic students at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of all CMCC students from September to November 2017. Eligible participants were students aged 18 years and older, enrolled in year 1–4 of the chiropractic program. Individual characteristics included sociodemographic, lifestyle behaviours, and health-related factors. The outcomes were: 1) self-reported LBP in the past week, and 2) LBP ≥3/10 on the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale. We used univariable modified Poisson regression to explore the association between characteristics and stated outcomes in the entire sample and stratified by gender. Results Our sample included 510 participants (67% response rate), with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD 2.8) and 60% women. Sixty-nine percent reported LBP in the past week and 47.4% had LBP ≥3/10 in intensity. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with LBP of any intensity included women, second year of studies, and the number of paid work hours per week. Lifestyle behaviours associated with LBP of any intensity included poor to fair sedentary behaviour and longer commute times to the college. Health-related factors associated with LBP of any intensity were symptoms of psychological distress, functional limitations related to psychological symptoms, neck pain, poor sleep quality, and low student satisfaction, with stronger associations observed with LBP ≥3/10. Gender-stratified analysis showed slight variations in these associations. Conclusion Our study provides preliminary evidence on factors associated with LBP in Canadian chiropractic students, informing future studies investigating LBP in this population.</p>