Abstract
This study evaluated the knowledge and application of ergonomic principles as well as manifestation of pain by dental students at the Federal University of Maranhão. Forty-four students answered a questionnaire on ergonomic principles. Photographs of the clinical rounds were performed to evaluate the postures adopted, without the students knowing the moment of photographic registration, avoiding that they modified their posture. The relationship between theoretical knowledge and the applicability of ergonomics in dental setting was evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Chi-square test analyzed the distribution of categorical variables among the evaluation instruments (α = 5%). Most of the participants adopted a satisfactory posture and presented knowledge about ergonomic postures, however, one can observe the poor positioning of the eyes and spine. 75% of the patients experienced pain in the body, being the spine (61.4%) and neck (40.9%) the most affected sites. The sample evaluated had good knowledge on ergonomic principles, but these were not adopted entirety, which may have led to the onset of pain.
Highlights
Ergonomics is the science that brings a set of multidisciplinary knowledge applied in the workplace organization and the elements which make up labour activities, with the objective of assuring a safe, healthy and comfortable environment and preventing work-related diseases by improving the effectiveness of the service (Gopinadh et al, 2013)
The dentist acts repeatedly, performing clinically operational skills restricted to a small region as the oral cavity and requirements for precision in this region and the muscular exertion required in some dental procedures make these individuals very vulnerable to occupational risks (Garbin et al, 2011)
Students evaluated had a sound knowledge towards ergonomic principles, as well as an adequate posture during routine dental procedures, but they did not put this into practice entirety, which may be related to the frequent discomfort reported by most of the interviewees
Summary
Ergonomics is the science that brings a set of multidisciplinary knowledge applied in the workplace organization and the elements which make up labour activities, with the objective of assuring a safe, healthy and comfortable environment and preventing work-related diseases by improving the effectiveness of the service (Gopinadh et al, 2013).Ergonomic conditions should provide a work situation which does not harm the health of those who do so, allowing them to be able to exercise their tasks and avoid work-related hazards (Oliveira et al, 2018).In dentistry, ergonomics aims to reduce physical and mental stress, to prevent dental practice diseases related, to seek greater productivity, with better quality of life, comfort for the professional and, for the patient (Kee & Karwowski, 2007; Garcia, 2016; Sachdeva et al, 2020; Shobhana et al, 2020). dentistry has evolved technologically in recent decades, there is a consensus on the lack of progress with regards to the professional’s health (Ahearn et al, 2010). Ergonomics is the science that brings a set of multidisciplinary knowledge applied in the workplace organization and the elements which make up labour activities, with the objective of assuring a safe, healthy and comfortable environment and preventing work-related diseases by improving the effectiveness of the service (Gopinadh et al, 2013). Ergonomics aims to reduce physical and mental stress, to prevent dental practice diseases related, to seek greater productivity, with better quality of life, comfort for the professional and, for the patient (Kee & Karwowski, 2007; Garcia, 2016; Sachdeva et al, 2020; Shobhana et al, 2020). Nature of the dental profession and postures assumed by dentists during their work has an effect on their body (Sachdeva et al, 2020; Shobhana et al, 2020). The dentist acts repeatedly, performing clinically operational skills restricted to a small region as the oral cavity and requirements for precision in this region and the muscular exertion required in some dental procedures make these individuals very vulnerable to occupational risks (Garbin et al, 2011)
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