Evaluating Knowledge, Awareness and Behaviour Among Dental Interns Regarding Ergonomics in Dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Survey

  • Rebecca Andrew
  • Sonia Narang
  • Srishti Aggarwal
  • Thongam S.
Keywords: Ergonomics, Posture, Pain, Dentists

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the main reasons that force dentists to retire early from their practice.
AIM: To assess the knowledge, awareness and behaviour among dental Interns in central and southern India regarding Ergonomics in Dentistry
MATERIALS AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study collected data using a questionnaire (pre-tested and pre-validated) amongst dental interns studying in various dental colleges in and around Central India. Participation in the study was voluntary and the questionnaire was divided into 4 sections with a total of 22 close ended questions. Data was anlayzed using SPSS version 21.0; descriptive statistics were applied followed by the unpaired samples t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS: The study consisted of 800 dentists, with most having fair knowledge (50.1%) and awareness (49.7%) regarding proper ergonomic posture (knowledge scores showed a significant statistical association). Most interns reported that they sometimes (41.5%) practiced dentistry ergonomically, while only 5.5% reported doing it always (significant difference, p=0.01*). A positive, linear, great strength of association (r: +0.7) and a significant relationship (p = 0.04) was found between knowledge and awareness scores using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
CONCLUSION: Dental awareness programmes are advised to educate dentists about the impending threat of MSDs if dentistry is not practiced ergonomically.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Rebecca Andrew

MDS (Prosthodontics), Consultant Dental Surgeon, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

Sonia Narang

BDS, Consultant Dental Surgeon, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Srishti Aggarwal

BDS, Consultant Dental Surgeon, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Thongam S.

MDS (Oral Pathology) and Private Practitioner, Manipur, Imphal, India

References

Kumar S, Gupta VK, Mishra G. Ergonomics in Dentistry: Really A Practice or Just a Tactics. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2019;6(7): G1-G4. http://dx.doi.org/10.21276/ijcmr.2019.6.7.12

Golchha V, Sharma P, Wadhwa J, Yadav D, Paul R. Ergonomic risk factors and their association with musculoskeletal disorders among Indian dentist: a preliminary study using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. Indian Journal of Dental Research 2014; 25:6.

Murphy DC (NYU College of Dentistry, USA). Ergonomics and dentistry. NY State Dent J. 1997 Aug-Sep;63(7):30–4.

Gupta A, Bhat M, Mohammed T, Bansal N , Gupta G. Ergonomics in dentistry. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2014 Jan-Apr; 7(1): 30–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1229

Hayes M, Cockrell D, Smith D. A systematic review of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. 2009; 7(3):159-65.

Abdolalizadeh M, Jahanimoghadam F. Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Practitioners and Ergonomic Strategies. Anatomical Sciences 2015;12(4):161-6.

Yousef MK, Al-Zain AO. Posture Evaluation of Dental Students. JKAU Med Sci. 2009;16(2):51-68.

Cagnie B, Danneels L, Van Tiggelen D, De Loose V, Cambier D. Individual and work related risk factors for neck pain among office workers: a cross sectional study. Eur Spine J. 2007;16:679-86.

IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

Bhagwat S, Hegde S, Mandke L. Prevalence of Musculoskel‐ etal Disorders among Indian Dentists: A Pilot Survey with Assessment by Rapid Entire Body Assessment. World Journal of Dentistry 2015;6(1):39‐44.

Vyas K, Parihaar L, Rajoria K, Arora J, Pandit A, Singh J. Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior towards “ergonomics” among Oral Health Professionals in Jodhpur city, Rajasthan, India. I J Pre Clin Dent Res 2014;1(3):5-9.

Desai V, Pratik P, Sharma R, Ergonomics: A must for Dentistry: A cross sectional study in various parts of Northern India. Journal of Dentofacial Sciences 2012;1(2):1-5.

Jadhav HC, Vishwakarma PY, Dodamani AS, Kshirsagar MM, Dodamani GA, Naik RG. Awareness Among Dentists Regarding Ergonomics in Dental Practice: A Cross-sectional Survey. Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry 2018;12(3):85-9.

Batra H, Rajvanshi H, Anshul K, Singh I, Chhabra N, Teja SV. An Estimation of Awareness among Practicing Dentists about Proper Ergonomic Practice and its Implications in Delhi - National Capital Region. Int J Sci Stud. 2015;3(7):70-5.

Gopinadh A, Devi KN, Chiramana S, Manne P, Sampath A, Babu MS. Ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder: As an occupational hazard in dentistry. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14:299-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1317

Lund AE. Have you or a member of your staff ever sustained an injury that is unequivocally related to the provision of dental care? J Am Dent Assoc. 2001;132:284.

CITATION
DOI: 10.26440/IHRJ/0407.10278
Published: 2020-10-22
How to Cite
1.
Rebecca Andrew, Sonia Narang, Srishti Aggarwal, Thongam S. Evaluating Knowledge, Awareness and Behaviour Among Dental Interns Regarding Ergonomics in Dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Survey. IHRJ [Internet]. 2020Oct.22 [cited 2024Mar.28];4(7):OR1-OR4. Available from: https://ihrjournal.com/ihrj/article/view/278