PREVALENCE OF RSI/DORT AMONG DENTISTRY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

Abstract

Dentists, like most professions, are exposed to several risk factors that can interfere with their well-being. In order for these professionals to be spared this inadequate exposure and other factors, ergonomic guidance related to posture and routine activities in the offices is necessary, so that we identify severe risks to the health of these professionals. Dental students are also subject to these factors and, associated with lack of experience, favor the establishment of postural defects. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of Repetitive Strain Injuries and Musculoskeletal Diseases among professors and students of a Dentistry course. An observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted. The study was developed in a Dentistry School Clinic. Professors of the Dentistry course who developed activities in dental clinics and students who were enrolled in disciplines involving the clinic were invited to participate in the survey. The Ergonomic Methodology of the Human-Task-Machine System (SHTM) by Moraes and Mont'Alvão (2010) was used, which is based on systems engineering. For this research, only the first stage of this method was applied, which is “ergonomic appreciation”, an exploratory phase that maps the problems related to hygiene and safety at work and the Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Systems. The results showed that out of a total of 350 students, only 146 answered the questionnaire, with a predominance of females (74.7%). In the profile of the 27 professors who answered the sociodemographic and Nordic questionnaire, there was a predominance of females (66.7%). Regarding the prevalence of pain in the last twelve months, it was found that “pain in some part of the body” affected 78.8% of the students, mainly in the lumbar region (43.8%) and neck (34.9%). While for “pain in some part of the body”, in the last 07 days among teachers, it was 51.9%. In the prevalence of pain in the last twelve months of the professors, it was found that “pain in some part of the body” was 70.4%, mainly in the shoulder region (44.5%). Regarding the characteristics of the school clinic, the students answered that the physical and environmental work environments in general are regular. The main problems reported were noise (45.9%), the dental chair (41.1%) and cabinets (41.15%). Through ergonomic tools at work, the need for ergonomic and preventive guidelines in the activities of students and professors was shown, favoring the applicability of ergonomics in dental practice.