Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6wwpzgn5m

Effect of Prolonged Immobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Low Back Pain (LBP) in the Community

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1. Dataset Description

This dataset contains individual-level data from a quantitative observational analytical cross-sectional study examining low back pain (LBP), symptoms suggestive of herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), and selected sociodemographic, behavioral, physical activity, and ergonomic factors among members of the Indonesian community who engaged in work-from-home (WFH) activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dataset contains 19 variables and is provided in IBM SPSS Statistics .sav format.

Each row represents one study respondent. The dataset has been prepared for public data sharing and does not contain direct personal identifiers.

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2. Study Context

Study Design

The study used a quantitative, observational analytical, cross-sectional design.

Study Population

The study population consisted of members of the Indonesian community who engaged in work-from-home (WFH) activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including workers and students.

The calculated minimum sample size was 379 participants. An additional 10% was added for contingency purposes, resulting in a target sample of 420 participants. The associated manuscript reports that 420 respondents were selected.

Data Collection

Primary data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire implemented through Google Forms.

The questionnaire was distributed online through social media platforms, including LINE, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

The questionnaire contained 20 questions covering demographic characteristics, sitting duration, physical activity, daily habits and tasks, pain-related aspects, and psychological aspects.

The study period considered the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia from the first reported case in March 2020 through the government's declaration of the end of pandemic status on June 22, 2023. This period describes the reference period assessed by the questionnaire and should not be interpreted as the period during which data collection occurred.

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3. Data File Organization

The dataset submission contains the following files:

The primary data file is provided in IBM SPSS Statistics .sav format.

Users who access or convert the dataset using software other than SPSS should use this README to interpret the variables because SPSS-specific variable and value labels may not persist after conversion to other formats.

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4. Unit of Observation and Dataset Structure

Each row represents one study respondent.

Each column represents one study variable.

The dataset is structured at the individual-response level and is intended for statistical analysis at the respondent level.

The dataset does not contain respondent names or other direct personal identifiers.

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5. Variables and Interpretation

5.1 LBP — Low Back Pain

Variable name: LBP

LBP represents self-reported tension or pain in the low back during WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interpretation:

• Yes = respondent reported experiencing low back tension or pain.
• No = respondent did not report experiencing low back tension or pain.

LBP was assessed by self-report and was not based on a clinical examination.

5.2 HNP — Herniated Nucleus Pulposus Symptoms

Variable name: HNP

HNP represents symptoms suggestive of herniated nucleus pulposus based on symptoms assessed in the questionnaire.

Interpretation:

• Yes = respondent met the study's symptom-based criteria for suspected HNP.
• No = respondent did not meet the study's symptom-based criteria for suspected HNP.

HNP in this dataset represents a symptom-based suspected condition and is not a clinically confirmed diagnosis.

5.3 STRESS — Stress-related Measure

Variable name: STRESS

The dataset contains a categorical stress-related measure.

The value labels in the SPSS dataset are:

• Depression
• Not depression

These labels should be interpreted according to the original study questionnaire and methodology. The variable should not automatically be interpreted as a clinical diagnosis of depressive disorder.

5.4 GENDER — Gender

Variable name: GENDER

Categories:

• Female
• Male

5.5 AGE — Age

Variable name: AGE

Age was measured in years and is reported here in categories.

Categories:

• 18–34 years
• >34 years

5.6 EDUCATION — Educational Attainment

Variable name: EDUCATION

Categories:

• High school or less
• Diploma or more

5.7 JOB — Employment Status

Variable name: JOB

Categories:

• Employed
• Unemployed

The employment classification follows the categorization used in the study.

5.8 ETHNICS — Ethnicity

Variable name: ETHNICS

Categories:

• Javanese
• Sundanese
• Betawi
• Malay
• Batak
• Other

5.9 BMI — Body Mass Index Category

Variable name: BMI

BMI is represented as a categorical variable.

Categories:

• Obesity
• Not obesity

The dataset does not contain a continuous BMI measurement.

5.10 LOCATION — Residential Location

Variable name: LOCATION

Categories:

• Urban
• Rural

5.11 SMOKINGS — Smoking Status

Variable name: SMOKINGS

Categories:

• Smoking
• Not smoking

5.12 ERGONOMIC — Ergonomic Condition

Variable name: ERGONOMIC

This variable represents the ergonomic condition according to the study classification.

Categories:

• Ergonomic
• Not ergonomic

5.13 SITTINGT — Sitting Duration

Variable name: SITTINGT

Sitting duration during the pandemic is categorized as:

• 0–8 hours per day
• More than 8 hours per day

Unit: hours per day

This variable is categorical and does not provide the exact continuous number of sitting hours.

5.14 HEAVYLOAD — Heavy Load Lifting

Variable name: HEAVYLOAD

This variable represents lifting a load of approximately 5 kg.

Categories:

• Lifting heavy load
• Not lifting heavy load

5.15 STRECHING — Stretching During WFH

Variable name: STRECHING

This variable represents stretching behavior during WFH.

Categories:

• Often
• Rarely

5.16 EXERCISE — Exercise Frequency

Variable name: EXERCISE

Exercise frequency is categorized according to the number of exercise sessions per week.

Categories:

• 0–1 time a week — never or only once a week
• More than 1 time a week

Unit: times per week

5.17 AGE1 — Re-coded Age Group

Variable name: AGE1

AGE1 is a re-coded categorical version of the age variable.

Categories:

• 18–34 years
• >34 years

This is a derived/re-coded variable related to AGE.

5.18 JOB1 — Re-coded Employment Status

Variable name: JOB1

JOB1 is a re-coded employment-status variable.

Categories:

• Not Working
• Working

The value labels in the shared SPSS dataset are provided in English. The original numeric coding has been retained to preserve consistency with the analytical dataset.

5.19 SMOKING1 — Re-coded Smoking Status

Variable name: SMOKING1

SMOKING1 is a re-coded smoking-status variable.

Categories:

• Non Smoker
• Smoker

The value labels in the shared SPSS dataset are provided in English. The original numeric coding has been retained to preserve consistency with the analytical dataset.

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6. Variable Summary

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7. Derived and Re-coded Variables

The dataset contains variables that are re-coded versions of other variables:

• AGE1 is a re-coded age-group variable derived from AGE.
• JOB1 is a re-coded employment-status variable related to JOB.
• SMOKING1 is a re-coded smoking-status variable related to SMOKINGS.

These variables were retained because they represent categorical forms used in the statistical analysis.

Users should not automatically treat the original and re-coded variables as independent constructs.

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8. Categorical Variable Interpretation

Categorical variables are represented using numeric values in the SPSS data file and are accompanied by English value labels.

The category descriptions provided in Sections 5 and 6 should be used to interpret the variables when the dataset is opened or converted using software other than SPSS.

The numeric coding should be retained when converting the dataset to another statistical format to preserve consistency with the original analytical dataset.

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9. Missing Data

The manuscript does not provide a complete description of missing-value codes.

Users should inspect the actual values and metadata in the .sav file before conducting secondary analyses and should distinguish missing or unavailable responses from substantive response categories.

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10. Human Subjects and De-identification

This dataset contains individual-level data derived from human participants.

The shared dataset has been prepared in de-identified form for public data sharing.

No direct personal identifiers, including participant names, identification numbers, telephone numbers, email addresses, residential addresses, or medical record numbers, are included in the shared dataset.

The dataset should be used in accordance with applicable ethical, privacy, and data-sharing requirements.

The associated study states that participants received study information and provided consent through the online questionnaire.

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11. Measurement and Interpretation Notes

1. LBP is self-reported. The LBP variable should not be interpreted as a clinician-confirmed diagnosis.
2. HNP is symptom-based. The HNP variable represents suspected HNP based on reported symptoms and should not be interpreted as confirmed HNP.
3. BMI is categorical. The dataset contains obesity/non-obesity categories rather than a continuous BMI measurement.
4. Sitting duration is categorical. The dataset distinguishes 0–8 hours/day from more than 8 hours/day rather than providing exact sitting duration.
5. Exercise frequency is categorical. The dataset provides frequency categories rather than exact exercise duration.
6. AGE1, JOB1, and SMOKING1 are re-coded variables. These variables should be interpreted as derived categorical variables related to their corresponding original variables.
7. STRESS requires careful interpretation. The value labels in the SPSS dataset use the terms "Depression" and "Not depression." These labels should be interpreted according to the original study instrument and should not automatically be considered a clinical psychiatric diagnosis.

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12. Software and Data Format

File format: IBM SPSS Statistics System File (.sav)

Software used: IBM SPSS Statistics

Version indicated in the data file: IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0

The dataset may be imported into other statistical software. Users should verify that numeric coding, variable labels, value labels, missing-value specifications, and measurement levels are preserved correctly after conversion.

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13. Abbreviations

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14. Study Limitations Relevant to Data Reuse

The associated study has the following limitations relevant to interpretation and reuse:

• The cross-sectional design limits temporal interpretation of associations.
• Data were collected using an online questionnaire, which may introduce selection and response bias.
• LBP was assessed through self-reported symptoms rather than clinical diagnosis.
• HNP was assessed based on symptoms and was not confirmed using MRI.
• The study focused on individuals who engaged in WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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15. Associated Publication

Effect of Prolonged Immobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Low Back Pain (LBP) in the Community

The dataset was prepared in association with this study and should be interpreted together with the associated publication and study methodology where available.

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16. Funding

The associated study was supported by the Directorate of Research and Development, Universitas Indonesia, through the International Indexed Research Grant (PUTI) Q2 FY 2023–2024.

Contract number:

NKB-713/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2023

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17. Conflict of Interest

The associated manuscript reports no conflict of interest.

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18. Data Citation

Please cite the Dryad dataset using the final citation and DOI assigned by Dryad after publication.

Dryad DOI: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6wwpzgn5m

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19. Important Note for Data Users

This README provides the definitions and interpretation of the variables contained in the submitted SPSS dataset.

Users should consult the associated publication for detailed information regarding the study methodology, sampling procedures, questionnaire, statistical analysis, and interpretation of study findings.

When converting the SPSS file into another format, users should retain the original variable names and numeric coding and use this README to preserve the meaning and interpretation of categorical variables.

Human subjects data

This dataset contains de-identified information collected from human participants who participated in an online cross-sectional survey conducted in Indonesia. The dataset was prepared for public data sharing with participant privacy and confidentiality in mind.

Direct personal identifiers were removed from the dataset prior to publication. The publicly shared dataset does not include participants' names, telephone numbers, email addresses, or other direct personal identifiers.

The dataset contains research variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, low back pain (LBP), suspected herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) symptoms, sitting duration, physical activity, smoking status, ergonomic factors, weight-lifting, stretching, body mass index (BMI), and perceived stress. These variables are provided in de-identified form for research and reproducibility purposes.

The dataset does not contain clinical records or personally identifiable medical information. HNP status in this dataset represents suspected HNP based on self-reported symptoms and was not confirmed through clinical examination or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).