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Background: Clinical communication impacts on physiotherapy treatment outcome and its competence warrants being assessed during training for physiotherapists given the increasing need to improve patient outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the assessment of clinical communication in entry-level physiotherapy programs in Nigeria. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, questionnaires were sent by e-mail or hand-delivered to the heads of physiotherapy programs, asking them to consult with faculty members involved in the assessment of clinical communication in undergraduate education. Results: Six of seven physiotherapy programs responded (an 86% response rate). Assessment of clinical communication and methods of assessing clinical communication by the programs showed wide variation. There was an average of two assessments per year. The objective structured clinical examination with patients (21; 38%) and written communications (report/chart) (13; 23%) were the most commonly used assessment methods. Perceived challenges included a lack of facilities, validity, inexperienced examiners, and difficulties in integrating processes and content. Conclusion: A variety of assessment methods are being used in entry-level physiotherapy programs in Nigeria, which target different components of clinical communication skills acquisition. More effort is needed to improve limited facilities and human resources training to enhance clinical communication assessment in Nigerian physiotherapy programs.

BACKGROUND: The health implication of backpack carriage among school-aged children is a topic of growing research and public health interest. Low weighing backpacks may decrease the risk of musculoskeletal discomforts (MSDs). OBJECTIVE: To investigate MSDs and their association with backpack carriage practices among secondary school students in eastern Nigeria. METHOD: Across-sectional study of 404 (243 females and 161 males) secondary school students aged thirteen to seventeen who were residents of Enugu State, Nigeria was conducted. The Modified Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was adapted and used to collect information onstudents' demographics, musculoskeletal painand backpack carriage. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were utilized to summarize results. Chi-square test was used to explore the association between MSD prevalence and backpack carriage practices. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Alpha level was kept at 0.05. RESULTS: The average backpack weight carried by the students in this study was 2.49kg. Shoulder (185, 45.8%), neck (121, 30.0%), upper back (91, 22.6%) and lower back (22, 5.5%) in that order were the body regions most affected by MSDs within the last 12 months. More females than males reported MSDs (60.5% vs 45.2%; x 2 = 8.09, p=0.04). Other students'characteristics and backpack carriage related factors were not associated with MSDs. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of MSDs among secondary school students in this study but it is not related to backpack carriage. Further research is required to identify the factors responsible for the MSDs, as well as suitable interventions to reduce its impact in this population.

We investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and the association of 1-month prevalence with individual and work-related factors among commercial typists in Enugu. Participants responded to a questionnaire about occurrences of MSP and a 75.6% (242/320) response rate was achieved. Prevalence was summarized in frequencies and percentages while associations between MSPs and risk factors were explored using chi-square. MSP was most common in the low back (58.3%), and low back pain limited 51.7% from activities between 1 and 30 days. Advancing age was significantly associated with MSP in the low back (x = 19.885; p = .001), neck (x = 28.309; p < .001), shoulder (x = 13.122; p = .011), but not wrist/hand (p = .075). Working 1-5 years in this job was associated with increasing prevalence of MSP in all body regions studied. Lesser job control was associated with increased prevalence of wrist/hand pain. Prevalence of MSDs among computer operators in Enugu, Nigeria, is high and highlights the importance of workplace intervention.