Ergonomic Knowledge and Postural Behavior Among Healthcare Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is increasingly common among healthcare students, primarily due to poor ergonomic behavior, static postures, and limited physical activity during academic and clinical tasks. Adequate ergonomic knowledge and appropriate postural behaviors may help reduce the risk of musculoskeletal pain during training and future professional practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 421 undergraduate students from five healthcare disciplines (Dental, Medical, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy) at a private university, in Bengaluru, India. The validated adult version of the Aristegui questionnaire was administered online. Responses to knowledge and behavior were scored and categorized into Good, Fair, and Poor levels. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: While 56.1% of students demonstrated good ergonomic knowledge, only 5.5% exhibited good ergonomic behavior. A significant association was observed between discipline and ergonomic knowledge (P = 0.033), whereas ergonomic behavior did not differ across disciplines (P = 0.520). MSP was reported by 68.2% of participants. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight a disconnect between knowledge and practice, reinforcing the need to integrate structured ergonomic education and hands-on training into healthcare curricula.