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Effect of an Educational Intervention on Postural Risk Among Endodontic Residents Under Different Magnification
Alberto García Alcaide1, Antonio Jesús Conde Villar1, Ruth Pérez Alfayate1
1Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Summary
A single ergonomic lecture significantly reduced postural risk for endodontic residents using magnification. However, working without magnification still poses moderate to severe risk, highlighting the importance of ergonomic practices and visual aids in dental education.
Area of Science:
- Dental ergonomics
- Clinical dentistry
- Postgraduate dental education
Background:
- Endodontic residents frequently experience musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the neck and lower back.
- Poor posture and high postural risk are common in dental practice, exacerbated by magnification choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored ergonomic lecture on reducing postural risk among endodontic residents.
- To compare the impact of no magnification, loupes, and operating microscopes on postural risk after ergonomic training.
Main Methods:
- A within-subjects crossover study involving 10 endodontic residents before and after a 90-min ergonomic lecture.
- Participants performed molar treatments under three visual conditions (no magnification, loupes, microscope), with procedures video-recorded.
- Postural risk was assessed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scoring system.
Main Results:
- Baseline RULA scores were significantly higher for endodontic residents working without magnification compared to those using loupes or a microscope.
- Following the ergonomic lecture, the no-magnification group showed reduced RULA scores, but these remained significantly higher than the loupes and microscope groups.
- All participants reported prior musculoskeletal pain, emphasizing the prevalence of these issues in endodontic training.
Conclusions:
- A single ergonomic intervention significantly decreases postural load for endodontic residents, especially when combined with magnification.
- While ergonomic training improves posture, working without magnification continues to present a moderate to severe risk, underscoring the need for ergonomic aids.
