Executive Director, Dental Programs, Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA, USA, and former faculty member at The Ohio State University;
Assistant professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 2021 Apr;95(2):36-41.
Prolonged muscle strain and repetitive movements in the dental workforce may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether feedback involving photography and self-assessments would improve the postures and the accuracy of ergonomic self-assessment among practicing dentists and dental hygienists. convenience sample of dentists and dental hygienists was used for this randomized control design study (n=50). The Modified-Dental Operator Posture Assessment Instrument (M-DOPAI) was used for ergonomic evaluations of the randomly assigned control and experimental (training) groups over a four-week period. All participants were photographed and completed a M-DOPAI without viewing the photographs or receiving feedback at baseline. Participants in the control group independently completed a M-DOPAI without any additional photographs or feedback during weeks two and three. The experimental group had additional photographs taken and completed a M-DOPAI along with the principal investigator. Mixed-design ANOVAs were used to evaluate improvements in ergonomic scores and the accuracy of ergonomic self-assessments. The training group utilizing photography resulted in improvements in ergonomic scores as compared to the control group. Improvements in the accuracy of ergonomic self-assessments was demonstrated among practicing dental hygienists. All participants strongly agreed that it was important to understand and properly apply ergonomics, and to develop accurate ergonomic self-assessment skills for clinical practice. Improving self-awareness for ergonomics through self-assessment can help reduce the risk of developing WMSDs among practicing dentists and dental hygienists.
牙科工作者中长时间的肌肉劳损和重复动作可能导致与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病（WMSD）。本研究的目的是确定涉及摄影和自我评估的反馈是否会改善执业牙医和牙科保健员的姿势和人体工程学自我评估的准确性。本随机对照设计研究（n=50）使用了牙医和牙科保健员的方便样本。在四周的时间内，使用改良牙科操作者姿势评估工具（M-DOPAI）对随机分配的对照组和实验组（培训组）进行人体工程学评估。所有参与者在基线时都进行了拍照并填写了 M-DOPAI，而无需查看照片或接受反馈。对照组的参与者在第二和第三周独立填写了 M-DOPAI，而无需任何其他照片或反馈。实验组则拍摄了更多照片，并与主要研究人员一起完成了 M-DOPAI。混合设计方差分析用于评估人体工程学评分和人体工程学自我评估准确性的提高。与对照组相比，使用摄影的培训组在人体工程学评分方面有所提高。在执业牙科保健员中，人体工程学自我评估的准确性有所提高。所有参与者都强烈认为，了解和正确应用人体工程学以及为临床实践发展准确的人体工程学自我评估技能非常重要。通过自我评估提高对人体工程学的自我意识可以帮助减少执业牙医和牙科保健员中发生 WMSD 的风险。
