Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on musculoskeletal disorders and work ability among young dental professionals: A cluster-randomized controlled trail

Abstract

Objectives This study is to evaluate the efficacy of participatory ergonomic (PE) intervention on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work ability among young dental professionals in China. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trail was conducted during 2015–2016. Twenty‐nine departments from five hospitals in the South of China were randomized into intervention (14 departments) and control (15 departments), with individuals of 125 and 138 dental professionals, respectively. Main participatory ergonomic interventions involved work posture, repetitive motions, tool usage, work break relaxation and work time re‐arrangement with total 235 ergonomic changes in the trail. Individual ergonomic risk exposure was assessed by investigator's observation using quick exposure check (QEC). Work ability index (WAI) and MSDs were collected by questionnaires at baseline, and every 3 months during the 1‐year follow‐up. Results Follow‐up rate was 91% and 96% for the intervention and control group, respectively. Significant reductions in ergonomic risk exposure and MSD prevalence on six anatomic sites were found in the PE group during the different follow‐up stages. WAI scores improved by 1.1 (95% CI 0.43, 1.89) after the 9‐month intervention. Compared to the control, the PE participants significantly reduced MSDs on neck (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.03) and wrists/hands (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.21), marginally increased WAI scores by 0.53 (95% CI: −0.02, 1.56) due to the interventions. Conclusion PE intervention is effective in reducing ergonomic risk exposure and MSDs on neck and wrists/hands among young dental professionals. PE ought to be offered in the early dental career for preventing MSDs.

Don’t Just Stand There. Rethinking the Ideal Body Posture for Otorhinolaryngologists

“…The 4 P’s of precision medicine: prediction, prevention, personalization and participation are ideally suited to the proactive prevention and management of MSK injuries in surgeons. 112 Our focus should shift away from fragmented hazard reduction or hazard-specific programs toward more holistic paradigm considering measures for all hazards in combination. 113…”

“…111 Factors imperative for the successful and sustained implementation of WRMSKD preventative strategies include: (i) education, training and ergonomists’ support; (ii) communication between stakeholders, participation (particularly the involvement of “end-users” rather than a top-down approach) and support (peer and managerial); and (iii) effective implementation processes (that are specific, practical and have broad benefits and real impacts). 111,112 Successful MSK prevention strategies require a process that involves planning, performing, evaluating and improvement or “Plan-Do-Check-Act.” 111 Ergonomics or improvement committees may be introduced at different organizational levels within an institution to champion change. These committees will have the ability to be implemented via a combined top-down, middle-out and bottom-up approach and can lead to many improvements including an increased awareness of ergonomic risks within the workforce.…”

The Impact of Quality of Work Organization on Distress and Absenteeism among Healthcare Workers

“…It is, however, evident that programs can only work with the concrete support of company management [ 78 ]. In the hospital, they were used not only to solve problems related to the manual handling of loads [ 79 , 80 ] or incorrect postures [ 81 , 82 ] but also to improve the organization of shifts [ 83 ], prevent workplace violence [ 84 , 85 ], control alcohol and drug use [ 86 ], and deal with relationship problems or multiple organizational issues [ 87 ]. Participatory simulation activities, with subsequent transferring and integrating of the simulation outcomes into the design of workplaces, have been proposed for improving hospital design projects [ 88 ].…”

Perception and Knowledge of Dental Ergonomics among Romanian Dental Students

“…The historic shift from a standing to a seated position during clinical dental procedures was intended to address the issue, especially lower back pain. But even so, seated dentistry also creates a predisposition to pain in the neck, shoulder and arm as well as in the lower back [ 28 , 29 ].…”

“…Applications of ergonomics in dentistry include a number of different elements such as adjustment of dental chairs, placement of instruments, doctor chair adjustment and maintaining optimal postures both for clinicians and dental assistants during different clinical procedures [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Therefore, as a prevention measure for health problems in future dental clinicians, it is important to have access to this information as students and for it to be taught adequately [ 29 ].…”