The Prevalence and Development of Neck and Lower Back Pain and Associated Factors in Dentistry Students—A Long-Term Prospective Study

Lenka Hodačová, Nela Pilbauerová, Eva Čermáková, Stanislav Machač, Jan Schmidt, Jan Hodač and Martin Kapitán
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Lenka Hodačová: Department of Preventive Medicine, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Nela Pilbauerová: Department of Dentistry, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, University Hospital Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Eva Čermáková: Department of Medical Biophysics, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Stanislav Machač: Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
Jan Schmidt: Department of Dentistry, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, University Hospital Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Jan Hodač: Department of Preventive Medicine, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Martin Kapitán: Department of Dentistry, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, University Hospital Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a significant occupational burden for dentists and dentistry students. This study aimed to assess the five-year development of most common musculoskeletal complaints among dentistry students during the whole length of their studies and to analyze the impact of some potentially associated risk factors. A longitudinal questionnaire survey regarding the occurrence of MSDs was conducted among a total of 73 dentistry students between 2014 and 2021. The same students enrolled in three consecutive years were monitored throughout their entire studies. Statistical analysis was performed using methods of descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, McNemar test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The most frequent areas of complaints were neck (61.6%) and lower back (49.3%). The increase in self-reported complaints between the first and the fifth year was statistically significant for neck pain (increase by 15%, p = 0.043) but not for lower back pain (by 6.8%, p = 0.44). According to our data, age, performing top-level sport, and participating in regular sporting activities had a statistically significant influence on neck and/or back pain. The results of this longitudinal prospective study showed that neck, as well as lower back pain, are significant problems for dentistry students.

Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders; dentistry students; multivariate analysis; neck pain; lower back pain; risk factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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