THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROBLEM SOLVING AND COPING WITH CHRONIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN MEDICAL STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between problem-solving and coping with chronic musculoskeletal pain in medical students. Material and Methods: A total of 245 medical students (140 female, 105 male) were included in this cross-sectional study, conducted between January 2024 and March 2024. Participants were recruited for the study via an online questionnaire using a snowball sampling technique. Coping with chronic musculoskeletal pain was evaluated using the Pain Coping Inventory (PCI). Problem solving was assessed using the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI). Results: The prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain among medical students was 80.8%. The median active coping subgroup score of the PCI was 2.0 (IQR, 1.63-2.38). The mean passive coping subgroup score of the PCI was 2.10±0.49. The mean PSI score was 86.7±18.8. The PSI scores were negatively correlated with the PCI active coping subscale score (r=-0.159, p=0.025) and positively correlated with the PCI passive coping subscale score (r=0.210, p=0.003) in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Multivariate regression analysis showed that PSI score was the only factor associated with the PCI active coping score in the participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain (B=-0.004, p=0.024) (R2=0.026). The PSI score (B=0.006, p=0.001) and VAS score (B=0.045, p=0.016) were factors associated with the PCI passive coping score (R2=0.079). Conclusion: Problem-solving skills may influence the use of coping strategies for musculoskeletal pain. The development of problem-solving abilities, and even the teaching of such abilities from an early age, may prove beneficial in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain.