Explaining factors related to neck pain and its preventive behaviors in teachers based on the health belief model: A qualitative study

 Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders associated with work that leads to important social and economic consequences such as reduced productivity due to absenteeism, early leave and retirement, missed working days, financial loss. Due to medical expenses and poor work ethic due to discomfort when working in the workforce, especially teachers. The aim of this study was to identify and explain the causes of occupational neck pain and promote preventive behaviors based on the health belief model in teachers.

The was a qualitative study using the directed content analysis approach by telephone interviews with 25 high school teachers working Tehran, Iran, in 2020. Teachers were selected based on simple random sampling. Interview questions were designed based on the constructs of the health belief model and the information was analyzed using MAXQDA software.

Based on the health belief model the following factors including awareness, sensitivity and perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action and self-efficacy emerged as effective factors causing occupational neck pain in teachers.

Teachers expressed a number of reasons for neck pain experiencing. Due to the important role of teachers in educating children, adolescents and young people, their health should be considered a priority.