Back pain prevention program: An evaluation after a 10-year implementation amongst dental students.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Dental Public Health
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Dentists and dental students exhibit higher back pain prevalence than the general population.
• This necessitates integrating effective back pain prevention programs (BPPP) into dental curricula.
• A BPPP has been implemented for 10 years, prompting an evaluation of its efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-year implemented Back Pain Prevention Program (BPPP).
• To assess the impact of BPPP on back pain prevalence and intensity among dental professionals and students.
• To compare outcomes with a national survey of French dental practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 102 dentists and students participating in the BPPP.
• Assessed back pain prevalence, intensity (0-10 scale), and location (neck, upper/lower back).
• Compared BPPP beneficiary data with a 2018 national survey of French dental professionals.

Main Results:

• BPPP beneficiaries showed lower chronic back pain prevalence (60% vs. 77%, p < .001).
• Mean pain intensity was reduced across neck (1.91 vs. 2.40, p = .05), upper back (1.94 vs. 2.72, p < .001), and lower back (2.26 vs. 2.67, p = .15).
• Early BPPP implementation (from start of practice) correlated with lower chronic back pain prevalence (48.4% vs. 77%, p < .05).

Conclusions:

• The 10-year BPPP demonstrates a positive preventive effect on back pain for dentists and students.
• The program provides a strong foundation for managing occupational back pain in dentistry.
• Further improvements to the BPPP are recommended to enhance its preventive impact.