Painful Symptomatology Reported by Dentistry Students at a Brazilian University

Cristiane Assunção da Costa Cunha¹, Iris do Ceu Clara Costa¹, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli¹, Dyego Leandro Bezerra de Souza², Fábia Barbosa de Andrade^3*, Antônio Medeiros Júnior²

¹Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil.
²Department of Collective Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil.
³Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (FACISA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Santa Cruz, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/health.2015.78115                

Abstract

Objectives: Identification of the level of knowledge on ergonomics principles, and application of these by dentistry students to investigate whether painful symptomatology was experienced. An-other objective is the expansion of discussions on occupational health in academic settings. Study Design and Settings: Dentistry students of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (n = 148) were surveyed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine the severity of musculoskeletal symptoms experienced. Data were analyzed through EpiInfo 7.0 to measure central trends and variability 5for quantitative variables, absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables, and significance between groups (confidence intervals and chisquare). Association analysis (Pearson) was also carried out. Results: Ergonomic measures were not reported by students. Within the musculoskeletal symptoms described, females were the most affected, independent of academic level. Conclusions: Positive correlations were verified between all categories and all anatomic regions (e.g., neck, lower back, wrists, hands, and shoulders). Data suggest progressive worsening of symptoms, which will eventually result in leaves of absence.

Keywords

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Ergonomics, Health Promotion, Occupational Health, Health Education

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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