Abstract
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.
Footnotes
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Melanie J. Hayes, BOH, BHSc(Hons), PhD, is an Oral Health Lecturer; Derek R. Smith, BSc, BEd, MHSc, MPH, PhD, DrMedSc, is Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health; Jane A. Taylor, BDS, BScDent (Hons), MScDent, PhD, is Associate Professor and Program Convenor of Oral Health. All are at the Faculty of Health at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
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This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Occupational Health and Safety: Investigate the impact of exposure to environmental stressors on the health of the dental hygienist (aerosols, chemicals, latex, nitrous oxide, handpiece/instrument noise).
- Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
