Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on musculoskeletal disorders and work ability among young dental professionals: A cluster‐randomized controlled trail

OBJECTIVES: This study is to evaluate the efficacy of participatory ergonomic (PE) intervention on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work ability among young dental professionals in China. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trail was conducted during 2015–2016. Twenty‐nine departments from five hospitals in the South of China were randomized into intervention (14 departments) and control (15 departments), with individuals of 125 and 138 dental professionals, respectively. Main participatory ergonomic interventions involved work posture, repetitive motions, tool usage, work break relaxation and work time re‐arrangement with total 235 ergonomic changes in the trail. Individual ergonomic risk exposure was assessed by investigator's observation using quick exposure check (QEC). Work ability index (WAI) and MSDs were collected by questionnaires at baseline, and every 3 months during the 1‐year follow‐up. RESULTS: Follow‐up rate was 91% and 96% for the intervention and control group, respectively. Significant reductions in ergonomic risk exposure and MSD prevalence on six anatomic sites were found in the PE group during the different follow‐up stages. WAI scores improved by 1.1 (95% CI 0.43, 1.89) after the 9‐month intervention. Compared to the control, the PE participants significantly reduced MSDs on neck (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.03) and wrists/hands (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.21), marginally increased WAI scores by 0.53 (95% CI: −0.02, 1.56) due to the interventions. CONCLUSION: PE intervention is effective in reducing ergonomic risk exposure and MSDs on neck and wrists/hands among young dental professionals. PE ought to be offered in the early dental career for preventing MSDs.