PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Melanie J. Hayes
AU  - Derek R. Smith
AU  - Jane A. Taylor
TI  - Musculoskeletal Disorders in a 3 Year Longitudinal Cohort of Dental Hygiene Students
DP  - 2014 Feb 01
TA  - American Dental Hygienists Association
PG  - 36--41
VI  - 88
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/88/1/36.short
4100  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/88/1/36.full
SO  - J Dent Hyg2014 Feb 01; 88
AB  - Purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant occupational health issue for the dental hygiene profession. There is increasing evidence that these problems commence during undergraduate training; however, there is a surprising lack of studies investigating how MSD develops in student groups over the course of their study. The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal MSD trends among a cohort of undergraduate dental hygiene students at an Australian university. Methods: A previously validated self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to dental hygiene students in 3 consecutive years from 2008 to 2010. Results: MSDs were most commonly reported in the neck (ranging from 66 to 68%) and lower back (ranging from 61 to 68%), with a marked increase in reported lower back pain by the final year of study. Conclusion: This study not only supports mounting evidence that MSDs are a common problem for dental hygiene students, but further demonstrates the magnitude of this occupational health issue across the training program. These findings are concerning for a group yet to embark on their professional careers, given that it raises some serious questions about career longevity and the efficacy of preventive measures.