Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Work–Related Pain Correlates With Career Satisfaction Among Dental Hygienists

Aubreé Chismark; Gary Asher; Margot Stein; Tabitha Tavoc; Alice Curran

Abstract

Purpose: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSP) is associated with work stress and burn–out among registered dental hygienists, with prevalence estimates ranging between 64 to 93%. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies can be helpful in managing CMSP. The purpose of this study was to determine if dental hygienists who use CAM have greater career satisfaction compared to conventional therapy (CT) users.

Methods: ADHA members (n=2,431) in North Carolina (n=573) and California (n=1,858) were surveyed. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses and logistic regression.

Results: A response rate of 25.3% (n=617) was obtained, revealing that 76.5% (n=472) suffered from CMSP. The use of CAM or CT was reported among 80.7% (n=381) of dental hygienists with CMSP. CAM users reported greater overall health (79.3% vs. 54.0%, p<0.001), career satisfaction (59.2% vs. 39.0%, p<0.001) and were able to work the hours they wanted (69.8% vs. 64.0%, p<0.001) compared to CT users. Of those with CMSP, 36.4% (n=172) considered a career change and 13.0% (n=59) reported having left dental hygiene. Those with CMSP were less likely to recall that ergonomics were taught or reinforced during clinical training.

Conclusion: CAM therapies may improve quality of life, reduce work disruptions and enhance career satisfaction for dental hygienists who suffer from CMSP. Ergonomics education may help reduce the number of hygienists who suffer from CMSP. Increased student awareness of CMSP risk is needed to reduce CMSP in the future by enhancing ergonomics education and incorporating CAM, such as yoga stretches, into the classroom and clinic routine.

Footnotes

Aubreé Chismark is currently a Dental Hygiene Instructor at West Coast University, Anaheim, CA. At the time of this study, she was a candidate in the Dental Hygiene Education Master of Science Degree Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Gary Asher, MD, MPH, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Margot Stein, Ph.D. is a Pediatric Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Ecology, UNC School of Dentistry; she is also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine; Tabitha Tavoc, RDH, Ph.D. is a former Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Ecology, Division of Dental Hygiene and currently is the Director of Dental Hygiene, Fortis College, Landover, MD. Alice Curran, DMD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences and General Dentistry, UNC School of Dentistry.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Occupational Health and Safety: Investigate how work–force stressors influence career satisfaction.