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El Khatib A.1, Abbas R.1, Ragab H.2
1Beirut Arab University, Physical Therapy, Beirut, Lebanon, 2Beirut Arab University, Faculty of Dentistry, Beirut, Lebanon
Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common in dental practice especially that such a profession involves long seating time and fine and delicate procedures affecting body mechanics and consequently predisposing to musculoskeletal disorders. Physical therapist, in their role as health promoters, are increasingly involved in prevention particularly in assessing work related posture as well as delivering instructions about proper body mechanics in different work places. On the other hand, adopting correct posture in clinical settings is widely considered within the objectives of Dental curricula, and consequently, correct applications of body ergonomics by dental students remains a big challenge in dentistry education.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders in preclinical and clinical students through self reporting and blind scoring using Rapid Entire Body Assessment scale (REBA).
Methods: One hundred ninety students were recruited from the Faculty of Dentistry Beirut Arab University (BAU) 95 preclinical (year 1 & 2) and 95 clinical (year 4-5). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants who were asked to fill out an anonymous ergonomics oriented questionnaire and were assessed blindly by a physical therapist using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scale. The assessment was done randomly and on one instance during the application procedures in the dental simulation laboratory (for preclinical students) or in the BAU dental clinic (for clinical students). The study was done throughout a 4 month period.
Results: All preclinical students filled the self reported questionnaire while 70 out of 95 clinical students did fill it. According to the REBA scores, results indicated that about 40% of all participants were at a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders while only 3% were at a low risk. In contradiction, 80% of all participants claimed to adhere to proper ergonomic in their dental practice. Additionally, there is an about 30% increase in ergonomic awareness between first year and second year, correlated with only 10% increase in the proper ergonomic practice.
Conclusion(s): Even though dental curricula integrate the work related ergonomic challenges in several courses starting first year, and despite the good intellectual skills among dental students regarding correct posture, these measures seem to be not satisfactory to lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Adoption of more interactive and effective means to foster proper ergonomics is recommended.
Implications: This may include more awareness sessions on the danger of having musculoskeletal disorders, more training and implementation of exercise sessions during prolonged working time, using more ergonomic tools as magnification and may be putting more weight to assess ergonomics adherence in the work place.
Funding acknowledgements: This abstract is part of a study done in collaboration with the Faculty of Dentistry - Beirut Arab University
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval: This study got approval from the Institutional review board of BAU with the following number: IRB # 2016H-0026-HS-R-0183
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
