ATTITUDE TOWARDS ERGONOMICS AND PRINCIPLES AMONG HOUSE SURGEONS AND POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES: A SURVEY

Farah Mushtaq; Rizwan Qureshi; Dr.Farooq Kamran

doi:10.46903/gjms/23.1.1649

ATTITUDE TOWARDS ERGONOMICS AND PRINCIPLES AMONG HOUSE SURGEONS AND POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES: A SURVEY

Farah Mushtaq, Rizwan Qureshi, Dr.Farooq Kamran

Abstract

Background: Ergonomics plays a crucial role, customizing the work environment to promote health, efficiency, and safety while reducing potential occupational risks.

Objective: To assess the perspectives and attitudes of house surgeon and postgraduate trainee concerning ergonomics and its underlying principles.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 170 house surgeons and postgraduate trainees in operative dentistry was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, and other institutes in Pakistan. The study utilized a questionnaire adapted from previous studies to assess attitudes toward ergonomic principles in dental practice. Descriptive statistics were computed.

Results: With a mean age of 23.2±2.7 years, participants showed varied attitudes toward basic ergonomics principles, with 20.00% agreeing on applicability in a clinician's position. The majority supported ergonomic design for accessibility (71.76%), chair height adjustment (50.59%), and using ergonomically designed stools (66.47%). While opinions were divided on lightweight instruments, a significant majority (75.88%) agreed on the effectiveness of sharp instruments in reducing forces. Regarding ergonomics, microbreaks, exercises, and the dental curriculum, most favored incorporating microbreaks (81.18%), and there was consensus on the insufficient current ergonomics education (69.41%) and the need for it in the curriculum (64.71%).

Conclusion: Dental professionals hold diverse views on ergonomics, with consensus on factors like accessibility and the importance of sharp instruments. Positive sentiments surround ergonomic tools. There's a collective belief that ergonomics should be part of the curriculum, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and education in dentistry.

Keywords

Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal Disorders; dental students; post graduate trainees; Posture.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/23.1.1649