Musculoskeletal symptoms in New Zealand dental therapists: prevalence and associated disability.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and associations of disability due to musculoskeletal symptoms among practising New Zealand dental therapists.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey of a random sample of dental therapists.

METHOD

A postal questionnaire was sent out to all 483 registered dental therapists who were New Zealand Dental Therapists' Association (NZDTA) members in 2005.

RESULTS

Usable responses were obtained from 323 therapists (98.8% female; mean age 49.2; age range 23 to 72). The most commonly reported problems in the previous year were neck (56.8%), lower back (54.0%) or shoulder symptoms (52.4%). Fewer of those working regularly with a dental assistant reported shoulder symptoms, but they had a higher prevalence of hip/thigh symptoms. Overall, the prevalence of disability ranged from approximately one in five (neck) to one in three (elbows or lower back) of those reporting symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among New Zealand dental therapists is high, with neck, shoulder and lower back symptoms being particularly common. The impact of those symptoms on sufferers' daily lives is considerable. Both therapists and employers need to examine ways of minimising musculoskeletal stress in order to minimise the incidence of new cases, and to support sufferers so that they are not lost prematurely from a workforce group which is already struggling to maintain sufficient practising numbers.