Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists in Northwest area of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists who attend postgraduate courses in various specialties and establish possible relationships with sociodemographic and occupational factors. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study where 91 professionals responded to validated instruments: "Work-related activities that may contribute to job-related pain and / or injury" and NMQ "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire", and variables were also collected regarding sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Results: WMSDs were often reported in the neck, shoulder, lower/upper back, and hand/wrists. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there was a correlation between reports of WMSD in lower back and work related (OR=13.40). Moreover, associations were found between WMSDs and the occupational factors that can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among brazilian dentists, and that the work-related activities contributed to musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. (AU)

Musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic aspects of dentistry / Musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic aspects of dentistry

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dentists are considered professionals highly vulnerable to occupational problems and such injuries are sometimes caused by adopted postures and repetitive efforts during their work. This study aimed at checking the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and to observe whether the work of dentists acting in both public and private sectors was carried out ergonomically. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study with dentists (n=80). A self-applicable questionnaire was used to check the frequency of musculoskeletal pain and occupational injuries, as well as to record labor activities, practice of physical activity and their frequencies. Professionals were observed while carrying out dental assistance based on recommendations of the document “Adopting a healthy sitting working posture during patient treatment”, which is part of the International Standards Organization standardization 106/SC 6 N 411 from 2006. RESULTS: There has been job-related pain in at least 65.67% of dentists. The number of individuals adopting incorrect and inadequate positions during assistance was high, such as: head rotation (73.13%); spine rotation (47.76%) and legs angle less than 90o (91.04%). Medical leaves related to occupational injuries were found in a greater proportion among public service professionals (64%). CONCLUSION: There has been high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain related to inadequate postures adopted during clinical assistance and to long working hours without pause. .

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O cirurgião-dentista é apontado como um profissional muito vulnerável a problemas ocupacionais e essas lesões às vezes ocorrem devido a posturas adotadas e esforços repetitivos durante seu trabalho. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência de dores osteomusculares e observar se o trabalho dos cirurgiões-dentistas que atuam no setor público e privado foi realizado de forma ergonômica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo com desenho transversal, descritivo e observacional, com cirurgiões-dentistas (n=80). Com um questionário autoaplicável verificou-se a frequência de dores musculoesqueléticas e lesões ocupacionais, bem como o registro das atividades laborais, prática de atividade física e suas frequências. Os profissionais foram observados enquanto realizavam o atendimento odontológico baseado nas recomendações contidas no documento “Adopting a healthy sitting working posture during patient treatment”, que é parte da normatização da International Standards Organization, 106/SC 6 N 411 de 2006. RESULTADOS: Houve experiência de dor relacionada ao trabalho em pelo menos 65,67% dos cirurgiões-dentistas. O número de indivíduos que adotam posições incorretas e inadequadas durante os atendimentos foi elevado, tais como: rotação da cabeça (73,13%); rotação da coluna (47,76%) e angulação das pernas menor que 90º (91,04%). Afastamentos relacionados a lesões ocupacionais foram encontrados numa proporção maior entre os profissionais do serviço público (64%). CONCLUSÃO: Houve alta prevalência de dores osteomusculares relacionadas com as posturas inadequadas adotadas durante os atendimentos clínicos e a longas jornadas de trabalho sem pausas. .

Os distúrbios osteomusculares e suas consequências para os profissionais da odontologia / Osteomuscular disturbs and its consequences for dental professionals

A odontologia é uma profissão muito vulnerável a riscos ocupacionais, principalmente os relacionados à postura de trabalho. Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência dos distúrbios osteomusculares em cirurgiões-dentistas que frequentaram cursos de pós-graduação de diversas especialidades, estabelecendo possíveis relações com fatores sociodemográficos e ocupacionais, avaliar a percepção dos profissionais em relação aos fatores de risco e correlacionar a dor osteomuscular com a incapacidade funcional experimentada pelos profissionais da odontologia. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo transversal, no qual os profissionais responderam aos instrumentos validados: "Work-related activities that may contribute to job- related pain and/or injury", NMQ "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire", " Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ)" e a Escala Numérica da Dor. Foram, ainda, coletadas variáveis de caracterização sociodemográfica e ocupacional. A análise dos resultados foi realizada através do programa SPSS - versão 21.0, e utilizou-se o teste de correlação de Spearman. Para comparação de grupos foram utilizados os testes não paramétricos de Mann Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Do total de cirurgiões dentistas entrevistados (N=94), 90.4% relataram ter experiência de dor osteomusculares e apresentaram risco de dor na região inferior das costas 13.40 vezes maior do que os sujeitos assintomáticos. As regiões mais prevalentes foram: pescoço (58.5%), parte inferior (57.4%) e superior das costas (55.3%), ombros (46.8%) e punhos/mãos (44.7%). Observou-se significância estatística em relação à presença de dor quando o cirurgião dentista encontra-se numa situação ocupacional desconfortável, como por exemplo, trabalhar em posições incorretas ou em locais muito apertados (p-valor 0.005). A média total do PDQ foi de 7.91, para o domínio condição funcional (CF) a média foi de 5.29 e para o domínio componente psicossocial (CP) foi de 2.61. A incapacidade gerada pela dor foi classificada...

Dentistry is a job very vulnerable to occupational risks mainly those concerning work postures. Objective: To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disturbs in dentists who are enrolled in post-graduation courses in many specialties, stablishing possible relation with social, demographic and occupational factors; to evaluate the professionals’ perception regarding risk factors and correlation the musculoskeletal pain to the consequent incapacity among dental professionals. Method: In this cross-sectional study the professionals answered to the validated instruments: "Work-related activities that may contribute to job - related pain and/or injury", "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire" (NMQ), "Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) and the Numerical Scale for Pain. Variables about social, demographic and occupational characterization were also collected. The data analysis was performed using SPSS software - version 21.0 and it was applied the Sperman’s Test. To compare the groups it was applied the non-parametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Walis tests. Results: of total (N=94), 90.4% reported that they have experience of musculoskeletal pain, and these dentists showed risk 13.40 times higher to feel pain in inferior part of back than those who had no symptoms. The most prevalent areas of pain were the neck (58.5%), inferior (57.4%) and superior (55.3%) parts of back, shoulders (46.8%), and fists/hands (44.7%). The relation between the existence of pain and uncomfortable occupational postures of dentists was statistically significant, e.g. to work in wrong positions or in strait locals (p-value 0.005). Total average of PDQ was 7.91; on functional condition domain (FC) the average was 5.29 and on psychosocial component domain (PD) was 2.61. The incapacity resultant of pain was classified as moderate by 69.1% of professionals and the other part was classified as no incapacity. Regarding intensity of pain, the average was 1.96 and its intensity was classified as...

Os distúrbios osteomusculares e suas consequências para os profissionais da odontologia / Osteomuscular disturbs and its consequences for dental professionals

A odontologia é uma profissão muito vulnerável a riscos ocupacionais, principalmente os relacionados à postura de trabalho. Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência dos distúrbios osteomusculares em cirurgiões-dentistas que frequentaram cursos de pós-graduação de diversas especialidades, estabelecendo possíveis relações com fatores sociodemográficos e ocupacionais, avaliar a percepção dos profissionais em relação aos fatores de risco e correlacionar a dor osteomuscular com a incapacidade funcional experimentada pelos profissionais da odontologia. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo transversal, no qual os profissionais responderam aos instrumentos validados: "Work-related activities that may contribute to job- related pain and/or injury", NMQ "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire", " Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ)" e a Escala Numérica da Dor. Foram, ainda, coletadas variáveis de caracterização sociodemográfica e ocupacional. A análise dos resultados foi realizada através do programa SPSS - versão 21.0, e utilizou-se o teste de correlação de Spearman. Para comparação de grupos foram utilizados os testes não paramétricos de Mann Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Do total de cirurgiões dentistas entrevistados (N=94), 90.4% relataram ter experiência de dor osteomusculares e apresentaram risco de dor na região inferior das costas 13.40 vezes maior do que os sujeitos assintomáticos. As regiões mais prevalentes foram: pescoço (58.5%), parte inferior (57.4%) e superior das costas (55.3%), ombros (46.8%) e punhos/mãos (44.7%). Observou-se significância estatística em relação à presença de dor quando o cirurgião dentista encontra-se numa situação ocupacional desconfortável, como por exemplo, trabalhar em posições incorretas ou em locais muito apertados (p-valor 0.005). A média total do PDQ foi de 7.91, para o domínio condição funcional (CF) a média foi de 5.29 e para o domínio componente psicossocial (CP) foi de 2.61. A incapacidade gerada pela dor foi classificada...

Dentistry is a job very vulnerable to occupational risks mainly those concerning work postures. Objective: To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disturbs in dentists who are enrolled in post-graduation courses in many specialties, stablishing possible relation with social, demographic and occupational factors; to evaluate the professionals’ perception regarding risk factors and correlation the musculoskeletal pain to the consequent incapacity among dental professionals. Method: In this cross-sectional study the professionals answered to the validated instruments: "Work-related activities that may contribute to job - related pain and/or injury", "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire" (NMQ), "Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) and the Numerical Scale for Pain. Variables about social, demographic and occupational characterization were also collected. The data analysis was performed using SPSS software - version 21.0 and it was applied the Sperman’s Test. To compare the groups it was applied the non-parametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Walis tests. Results: of total (N=94), 90.4% reported that they have experience of musculoskeletal pain, and these dentists showed risk 13.40 times higher to feel pain in inferior part of back than those who had no symptoms. The most prevalent areas of pain were the neck (58.5%), inferior (57.4%) and superior (55.3%) parts of back, shoulders (46.8%), and fists/hands (44.7%). The relation between the existence of pain and uncomfortable occupational postures of dentists was statistically significant, e.g. to work in wrong positions or in strait locals (p-value 0.005). Total average of PDQ was 7.91; on functional condition domain (FC) the average was 5.29 and on psychosocial component domain (PD) was 2.61. The incapacity resultant of pain was classified as moderate by 69.1% of professionals and the other part was classified as no incapacity. Regarding intensity of pain, the average was 1.96 and its intensity was classified as...