Knowledge about ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders among dental practitioners – An institutional-based study

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Dental students and practitioners are frequently prone to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the unawareness of ergonomic principles when practicing dentistry. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge about MSDs in dental practitioners. Materials and Methods: A self-administered 28-item online questionnaire study was conducted among 100 dental practitioners. The study questionnaire captured demographic details of the participants as well as knowledge of ergonomic practices and MSDs and the nature of treatment. Descriptive analysis was done wherein the qualitative variables were expressed as percentages and proportions, whereas quantitative data were expressed as mean and standard deviation. The Chi-square test was used to check statistical associations and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All the participants practiced four-handed dentistry. Only 12% of the responders stated that the ideal position for treating the maxillary arch in patient as supine, whereas 86% responded as semi-supine and 2% as sitting position. Similarly, 97% of the responders rightly answered that the ideal position for treating mandibular arch in patient as semi-supine. Forty percentage of them answered correctly that the word ergonomics means work and law. Seventy-two percentage of the responders think that knowing ergonomics is useful in routine dental practice. Fifty-eight percentage of the dentists believe that stretching exercise during work will reduce muscle tension and stress. Conclusion: The present study provides an insight into ergonomics for dental students during routine dental procedures. Hence, emphasis on providing ergonomic principles both theoretically and practically to dental health-care professionals must be placed in all educational institutions and at continuing dental health programs, and it should be included in the curriculum.