Approach to prevention of musculoskeletal symptoms in dental students: an interventional study

A Change Management Approach to Promoting and Endorsing Ergonomics within a Dental Setting

Musculoskeletal pain and disorders (MSDs) constitute a well-recognised occupational hazard to the dental community. Fortunately, they are preventable. Dental office ergonomics plays a key role in addressing these musculoskeletal challenges. An ergonomic improvement project based on Kotter's eight-step change model management theory was implemented within a dental practice. The project provided valuable evidence-based ergonomic interventions to prevent or reduce MSDs. The task force motivated staff to engage in strategies and interventions to enact an ergonomic vision. This case study represents an action plan to guide this ergonomic change. The key results of this project were an evidence-based ergonomics health promotional brochure, reduced sick leave attributable to MSDs, and workplace ergonomic checkpoints. The ergonomic change model represents an ongoing process where innovative trends and evaluative methods can be supported. Research limitations and practical implications were acknowledged.

Association between work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and quality of life among dental students: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Dental students are frequently affected by work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) due to reasons such as working conditions, difficult education process and long work periods. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency and anatomical distribution of WMSs, and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) in dental students.

METHODS

Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of one-hundred and five dental students were recorded. WMSs were scored by the participants with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Then, participants were asked to evaluate their QoL by scoring the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form. Differences between independent groups for continuous variables were evaluated by Student's t-test and ANOVA as appropriate. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of demographic and health-related parameters in predicting the QoL subscales.

RESULTS

The most common painful region in the last 12 months was the neck (66.7%). The body region with the most WMSs in the last 7 days was the upper back (43.8%). Physical health-related QoL of those with diagnosed musculoskeletal symptoms, and general health-related QoL of those using medicine due to any musculoskeletal symptoms were found to be statistically significantly lower (p = 0.018, p = 0.041, respectively). It was observed that the general and physical health, psychological well-being, and social relationship of the participants who reported the presence of neck pain in the last 7 days were statistically significantly lower (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.012; respectively). According to multiple regression analyses, pain occurrence in the body in the last 12 months and/or in the last 7 days had a negative impact on the participants' general and physical health, psychological well-being, social relationship, and environmental status and related QoL (p = 0.026, p = 0.047, p = 0.021, p = 0.001, p = 0.027, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that dental students' body regions, especially the neck and the back, are affected by WMSs. These negative changes observed in the body had a negative effect on the QoL of the dental students.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Dental Students-RULA Applied to Objective Kinematic Data

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is already prevalent in dental students despite their young age and the short duration of dental practice. The current findings state that the causes of MSD are related to posture during dental work. This study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of dental students. In order to analyze the ergonomic risk of dental students, 3D motion analyses were performed with inertial sensors during the performance of standardized dental activities. For this purpose, 15 dental students and 15 dental assistant trainees (all right-handed) were measured in a team. Data were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which was modified to evaluate objective data. Ergonomic risk was found for the following body parts in descending order: left wrist, right wrist, neck, trunk, left lower arm, right lower arm, right upper arm, left upper arm. All relevant body parts, taken together, exhibited a posture with the highest RULA score that could be achieved (median Final Overall = 7), with body parts in the very highest RULA score of 7 for almost 80% of the treatment time. Dental students work with poor posture over a long period of time, exposing them to high ergonomic risk. Therefore, it seems necessary that more attention should be paid to theoretical and practical ergonomics in dental school.

Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms in Saudi Allied Dental Professionals: Is there an Underestimation of Related Occupational Risk Factors?

This study aims to examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms in allied dental professionals (ADPs) in Saudi Arabia and risk factors for MSDs. The study also explores ADPs' opinions and attitudes about the effect of MSD symptoms on the quality of life and potential mitigatory measures. This is a prospective cross-sectional study. Participants were 355 licensed dental staff (average age 33.6 ± 8.1 years, 69% women) working as assistants, lab technicians, radiology technicians, or sterilization technicians with at least six months' work experience. The self-administrated questionnaire comprised socio-demographics, work-related factors, and items from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Multivariate and univariate logistic regressions were conducted to investigate risk factors for MSD symptoms. Overall, 93% of ADPs complained of MSD symptoms in at least one body site in the past 12 months. Factors related to work conditions (e.g., 'keeping an uncomfortable posture for long periods of time', 'lifting heavy objects') and years of experience were proven to be significant risk factor for developing MSDs. The cohort of ADPs showed a high MSD symptoms prevalence. Efforts are imperative in addressing the risk factors of ergonomics and the workplace environment, and more rigorous studies are needed to further investigate risk factors.

Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review

Musculoskeletal diseases and pain (MSDs) are prevalent among dental professionals. They cause a growing inability to work and premature leaving of the occupation. Thus, the objective of this review was to summarize the evidence of ergonomic interventions for the prevention of MSDs among dental professionals. This review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature search was carried out in May 2018, with an update in April 2019. Scientific databases such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed and Web of Science as well as reference lists of the included studies were used. Relevant data were extracted from the studies and summarized. The quality assessment was performed using a validated standardized instrument. Eleven studies were included in this review, of which four are of high quality. Eight studies focused on setting prevention strategies. Of those, in five studies, magnification loupes or prismatic spectacles were the subject of ergonomic interventions. Further subjects were the dental chair (n = 2) and dental instruments (n = 1). Three studies evaluated ergonomic training. In all studies, the ergonomic interventions had positive effects on the study outcome. Several ergonomic interventions to prevent MSDs among dental professionals were found to exert a positive effect on the prevalence of MSDs or working posture. This systematic review adds current evidence for the use of prismatic spectacles in order to prevent MSDs among dental professionals. Further intervention studies about the role of ergonomics for the prevention of MSDs among dental professionals are warranted.