Risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in dental postgraduates:A survey on occupational hazard / 实用口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs)in dental postgraduates.Methods:271 dental postgraduates majoring in five different specialties(orthodontics,prosthodontics,endodontics,periodontics and alveolar surgery) with average (2.78 ±1 .57)years of clinical practice were recruited.254 age-matched non-dental postgraduates were served as the controls.The standardized Nordic questionnaire on MSDs and a self-report questionnaire regarding correlative factors were answered. Reliability of the responses was assessed by applying test-retest method.Results:The test-retest method revealed a high reliability of participants'answers with the intraclass correlation coefficient ranging from 0.89 to 0.96.Dental postgraduates had significantly higher incidence (85.6%)of MSDs than the controls(70.4%).In all included dental specialties,high prevalence of MSDs was reported at neck (47.5%-69.8%),followed by shoulders (50.8%-65.1 %),lowerback (27.1 %-51 .2%)and upper back (25.6%-46.5%).Meanwhile,the high prevalence of MSD varied in different specialties.Year of clinical work,clinical hours per week and desk hours per week were found to be the risk factors for MSDs,whereas physical exercise and rest were protective factors.Conclu-sionMSDs with high prevelence and distinct specialty-related characteristics initiate at the early stage of dental career.Relevant measures to prevent and protect against MSDs should be taken during school-days.