The Impact of Work-Related Factors on the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Dentists in Saudi Arabia

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Date

2024

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University of Birmingham

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have become one of the serious work-related health issues in dentistry. Additionally, its prevalence has been growing among dentists globally. Like other counties, this growing prevalence of MSDs among dentists in Saudi Arabia has also seen. Different work-related factors including higher workload, long working hours, lack of dental ergonomics, body posture and positioning, psychological stress and physical fitness are responsible for this growing MSD prevalence. Therefore, this study is aimed at comprehending the impact of work-related factors on the MSD prevalence among dentists in Saudi Arabia. This study followed the quantitative research method to investigate the impact of work-related factors on the MSD prevalence. Data was collected from Saudi dentists who are practicing in different dental hospitals and centres in Saudi Arabia using an online survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistic was used to analysis demographic data of the participants. An independent t-test was used to understand how the work-related factors like work-ergonomics impact on the MSD prevalence between groups. Regression and correlation analysis were used to understand association and correlation between the work-related factors and the MSD prevalence among Saudi dentists. This study’s findings highlight the MSD prevalence is more among dentists those who were not aware of ergonomic practices, and involved in physical exercise, compared to dentists who were aware and involved. Similarly, the higher MSD prevalence was also found among dentists those who had psychological stress and higher workload compared to others. The findings also reveal a strong association between work-related factors and the higher MSD prevalence among dentists. Therefore, this study suggests that incorporating ergonomic dental practices, proper body posture and positioning, involving physical exercise like yoga, managing psychological stress, and reducing workload through strategic scheduling, dentists in Saudi Arabia can reduce the MSD prevalence among them. Further research should focus on the examination of MSD prevalence between dentists of private and government hospitals, impact of gender, age and other personal factors on the MSD prevalence among dentists.

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Health, Safety, Occupational Health, Dentistry

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