Prevalência dos sintomas osteomusculares em cirurgiões-dentistas do município de Macapá-AP

Abstract

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) are considered a public health problem due to their high prevalence in several professions, including dental professionals. Due to poor posture and organization at work, for example, dentists occupy the first place in absence from work due to temporary or permanent disability, accounting for approximately 30% of the causes of premature abandonment of work activity among professionals in the field of health. This reality, however, continues to be underestimated and the lack of concern with prevention is one of the biggest challenges in identifying and changing this situation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and their relationship with sociodemographic, occupational and laboratory test results in dentists in the city of Macapá. As a criterion for eligibility, dentists from public and private networks with at least one year of experience were selected, with the exception of those who have been away from their activities in the last 15 days or who have strictly administrative positions. The survey had 68 participants and was conducted through the application of two self explanatory questionnaires, the "questionnaire adapted from the Gobbi study", used to collect sociodemographic and occupational data such as gender, age, length of experience, specialty that exercises the most, practice of physical activity and extra activities. The other instrument used was the “Nordic Questionnaire on Osteomuscular Symptoms”, internationally validated for measuring comorbidities by reporting the location and frequency of symptoms. In addition to applying the questionnaires, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical tests. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 92.6%. 32.4% were absent from work due to musculoskeletal problems, with a significant association with married marital status. 79.42% of the professionals surveyed had three or more associated symptomatic regions. Females had a higher mean in the number of symptomatic regions. The regions with the highest prevalence of symptoms were lumbar 82.4%, neck/cervical region, 72.1%, shoulders, 69.1%, and wrist/hand/finger 67.6%. Only seven participants had mild changes in the results of laboratory tests, therefore, there was no association between these and musculoskeletal symptoms. It is concluded that the results are worrying, since musculoskeletal symptoms often affect the majority of the sample, regardless of sociodemographic or occupational profile.