THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SIMPLIFIED INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR PREVENTING AND REDUCING LOW BACK PAIN AMONG MALAYSIAN BUS DRIVERS

An intervention study was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of an exercise program for reducing Low Back Pain (LBP) among bus drivers. A total of 197 bus drivers were randomly selected from a baseline study involving 1,197 drivers. Repeated Intervention programs (IN1 and IN2) were introduced which consist of a video programs, poster, pamphlet and demonstration. Pre-Intervention (pre-IN1 and pre-IN2) and post Intervention (post-IN1 and post-IN2) assessment studies the effect of the intervention programs to LBP and knowledge of respondents observed every 3 months. Knowledge score during Pre-IN 1 shows no significant difference between both groups whereas significant increase of knowledge was observed in Post-IN1, Pre-IN2 and Post-IN2 among the intervention group. The study revealed no significant changes of LBP complaints after post-IN1 in both group but a significant reduction of LBP among intervention group compared to the control group in the post-IN2. The effectiveness of the program was only seen after 6 months of the program.