Neck-Related Problems and Quality of Life Among Technology- Using Faculty Members at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions affecting working populations globally, with annual prevalence rates ranging from 16.7% to 75.1%. Technology-dependent professionals, including university faculty, are particularly vulnerable due to prolonged static postures and extended device use. Despite growing evidence on neck pain in occupational settings, no published study has applied a disease-specific instrument to assess neck-related quality of life among Saudi academic faculty.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at various colleges of Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. A total of 120 faculty members of both genders, aged between 30 and 60 years, with a minimum of one year of technology device exposure, were recruited using convenience sampling. The Neck Outcome Score (NOOS) English version was used to assess neck-related problems across five domains: mobility, symptoms, sleep disturbance, everyday activity, and participation in everyday life. A structured personal information questionnaire captured demographic and occupational data. Non-parametric statistical tests were applied following confirmation of non-normal data distributions.
Results: The sample was predominantly male (63.3%), with the largest age group in the 30–40-year range (46.7%). The Participation in Everyday Life domain recorded the lowest mean normalized score (76.83 ± 5.78), indicating it as the most affected functional area. Gender differences were non-significant across all five NOOS domains. Extended daily working hours (10–14 hours) were significantly associated with lower Participation scores (p = 0.047). Higher daily mobile device use was significantly associated with worse Symptoms scores (p < 0.001) and reduced Everyday Activity scores (p = 0.028). Age-related differences were significant in the Symptoms domain (p = 0.002), with faculty aged 40–50 years reporting the greatest symptom burden. Professional experience was significantly associated with Symptoms domain scores across experience groups (H = 11.271, p = 0.010), with faculty in the 5–10 years experience group reporting the highest symptom burden. Chi-square analyses revealed no statistically significant associations between age group and perceived break sufficiency (χ²(2) = 0.008, p = 0.996), nor between professional experience and ergonomic training participation (χ²(3) = 4.651, p = 0.199).
Conclusion: Neck-related functional impairment is measurable among technology-using faculty at Majmaah University, with daily working hours, mobile device use, age, and professional experience identified as the primary determinants of symptom burden. The findings support the need for institutional interventions including workload regulation, ergonomic training programs, and physical activity promotion to reduce cervical burden in academic settings.