Conhecimento de ergonomia e desordens osteomusculares entre estudantes de Odontologia

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the knowledge of Dentistry students on ergonomic principles applied to clinical practice, and to investigate symptoms associated with occupational diseases. Materials and Method: it was a cross-sectional census study, in which 164 students from the 3rd to the 9th school period of the Dentistry course at a University in the city of Caruaru, PE, Brazil, were interviewed. Two questionnaires were applied: one with questions pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about ergonomics, occupational diseases in Dentistry, and preventive measures; and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for measurement of musculoskeletal symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson’s correlation test or Fisher’s Exact test (p<0.05). Results: most of the respondents (87.2%) partially knew the concept of ergonomics, cited musculoskeletal disorders as the main occupational disorders (54.3%), and emphasized performing preventive measures “sometimes” (45.7%), considering stretching the most cited practice (53.0%). The most frequently affected site of musculoskeletal symptoms was the upper back (46.3%). There was statistical difference between the school periods of the students (3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th) for the variables: definition of ergonomics, frequency of use of preventive measures, main occupational diseases, and anatomical site of pain (p <0.05). There was a trend for worse performance and higher frequency of musculoskeletal disorders in students from the final periods of the academic course. Conclusions: the knowledge of students was unsatisfactory and regions most affected by symptoms associated with occupational diseases were upper and lower back and neck. Normative procedures must be followed in order to prevent occupational diseases in the academic environment.