Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany.
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 16;17(10):3490. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103490.
The occupation of dental assistants (DAs) involves many health risks of the musculoskeletal system due to static and prolonged work, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of MSDs in DAs in Germany.
For this purpose, an online questionnaire analyzed 406 (401 female participants and 5 male participants, 401w/5m) DAs. It was based on the Nordic Questionnaire (lifetime, 12-month, and seven-day MSDs' prevalence separated into neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, upper back, lower back, hip, knee, and ankle), and occupational and sociodemographic questions as well as questions about specific medical conditions.
98.5% of the participants reported complaints of at least one body region in their lives, 97.5% reported at least one complaint in the last 12 months and 86.9% affirmed at least one complaint in the last seven days. For lifetime, 12-month and seven-day prevalence, the neck was the region that was most affected followed by the shoulder, the upper back and the lower back.
The prevalence of MSDs among German (female) DAs was very high. The most affected area is the neck, followed by the shoulder, the lower back, and the upper back. It, therefore, seems necessary to devote more attention to ergonomics at the working practice of DAs as well in education and in dental work.
由于静态和长时间工作，牙科助理（DAs）的职业涉及许多肌肉骨骼系统的健康风险，这可能导致肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）。本研究的目的是调查德国 DAs 中 MSD 的患病率。
为此，一项在线问卷调查了 406 名（401 名女性参与者和 5 名男性参与者，401w/5m）DAs。它基于北欧问卷（终生、12 个月和 7 天 MSD 患病率，分为颈部、肩部、肘部、手腕、上背部、下背部、臀部、膝盖和脚踝）以及职业和社会人口学问题以及特定医疗条件的问题。
98.5%的参与者报告在其一生中至少有一个身体部位有投诉，97.5%报告在过去 12 个月内至少有一次投诉，86.9%肯定在过去 7 天内至少有一次投诉。对于终生、12 个月和 7 天的患病率，受影响最严重的部位是颈部，其次是肩部、上背部和下背部。
德国（女性）DAs 中 MSD 的患病率非常高。受影响最严重的部位是颈部，其次是肩部、下背部和上背部。因此，似乎有必要在 DAs 的工作实践、教育和牙科工作中更加关注人体工程学。
