Knowledge and Awareness towards Occupational Hazards and Preventive Measures among Students and Dentists in Jazan Dental College, Saudi Arabia

Redhwan A. Al-aslami; Fahiem M. M. Elshamy; Essamet M. Maamar; Ali Y. Shannaq; Abdulaziz E. Dallak; Abdulmohssen A. Alroduni

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.345

Authors

Redhwan A. Al-aslami Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan
Fahiem M. M. Elshamy College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan
Essamet M. Maamar College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan
Ali Y. Shannaq College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan
Abdulaziz E. Dallak College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan
Abdulmohssen A. Alroduni College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2018.345

Keywords:

Occupational hazards, Dental professionals, Infection control

Abstract

AIM: The present study was aimed to assess the level of awareness and occupational hazards of dental students and professionals who are working at dental college and hospital, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data has been collected through a self-administrated questionnaire with closed questions. The questionnaire consisted of questions on personal information like age, gender, years of experience and awareness of occupational hazards, seminar attendance, safety measures practised, and experience of occupational hazard while in practice. Participants were asked to answer each questionnaire item as â€œyesâ€ or â€œnoâ€. The data were analysed with SPSS-Version and P-value was generated.

RESULTS: Out of the 200 participants, 38.5% were females, and 62% were males. Differences were found significantly high between male and female subjects regarding neck shoulder pain, hand wrist pain, backache, and anxiety and routine use of a surgical cap (P < 0.05). Over 33% of the participants had attended workshops or conferences about the occupational hazards. 12.85% participants reported latex allergy and 74% of the participants vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Significant differences were found in the attitude of general dentists towards the preventive measures against the occupational hazards based on years of experience.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study are consistent with the previous studies. Specific psychological concerns related to the conditions and the environment of the practice at dental college and hospital, Jazan University were expressed because the majority of participants were students.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Tadakamadla, J, et al. Occupational hazards and preventive practices among students and faculty at a private dental institution in India. Stomatologija. 2012; 14(1):28-32. PMid:22617332

Asuzu MC. Occupational health: A Summary, introduction, and outline of principle. Ibadan. Afrika-Links Books. 1994:1-1.

Fasunloro, A. and F.J. Owotade, Occupational hazards among clinical dental staff. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2004; 5(2):134-152. PMid:15150641

Raja K. Occupational hazards in dentistry and its control measures â€“ a review. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2014; 3(6):397-415.

Mohammad Z. Musculoskeletal disorders: back and neck problems among a sample of Iraqi dentists in Baghdad city. J Baghdad Coll Dent. 2011; 23:90-5.

Khatib I, et al. Dentists' perceptions of occupational hazards and preventive measures in East Jerusalem, 2006.

SzymaÅ„ska J. Occupational hazards of dentistry. Ann Agric Environ Med. 1999; 6(1):13-9. PMid:10384210

Ayatollahi J, et al. Occupational hazards to dental staff. Dental research journal. 2012; 9(1):2. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-3327.92919 PMid:22363355 PMCid:PMC3283973

Rubel DM, Watchorn RB. Allergic contact dermatitis in dentistry. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2000; 41(2):63-71. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0960.2000.00398.x

Gambhir RS, et al. Occupational health hazards in the current dental profession - A review. Mercury. 2011; 81:82.

Pelka M, Distler W, Petschelt A. Elution parameters and HPLC-detection of single components from resin composite. Clinical oral investigations. 1999; 3(4):194-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s007840050101 PMid:10803134

Alexander RE. Stress-related suicide by dentists and other health care workers: Fact or folklore? The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2001; 132(6):786-794. https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2001.0278 PMid:11433860

Newton JT, et al. Stress in dental specialists: a comparison of six clinical dental specialties. Primary dental care. 2002; 9(3):100-104. https://doi.org/10.1308/135576102322492954 PMid:12221753

Alexopoulos EC, Stathi I-C, Charizani F. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2004; 5(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-5-16 PMid:15189564 PMCid:PMC441388

Leggat PA, et al. The health of dentists in southern Thailand. International dental journal. 2001; 51(5):348-352. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1875-595X.2001.tb00848.x PMid:11697588

Puriene A, et al. Self-reported occupational health issues among Lithuanian dentists. Industrial health. 2008; 46(4):369-374. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.46.369 PMid:18716385

Tezel A, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders in left-and right-handed Turkish dental students. International journal of neuroscience. 2005; 115(2):255-266. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590519517 PMid:15764005

Droeze EH, Jonsson H. Evaluation of ergonomic interventions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders of dentists in the Netherlands. Work. 2005; 25(3):211-220. PMid:16179770

Al-Rabeah A, Mohamed AG. Infection control in the private dental sector in Riyadh. Annals of Saudi Medicine. 2002; 22(1/2):13-17. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2002.13 PMid:17259759

McCarthy GM, MacDonald JK. The infection control practices of general dental practitioners. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 1997; 18(10):699-703. https://doi.org/10.2307/30141510

Morris E, Hassan FS, Al Nafisi A, Sugathan TN. Infection control knowledge and practices in Kuwait: a survey on oral health care workers. Saudi Dent J. 1996; 8(1):699-703.

Kearns H, Burke F, Cheung SW. Crossâ€infection control in dental practice in the Republic of Ireland. International dental journal. 2001; 51(1):17-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1875-595X.2001.tb00812.x PMid:11326444

Eriksen P, et al. Optical hazard evaluation of dental curing lights. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology. 1987; 15(4):197-201. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.1987.tb00518.x PMid:3476242

Palenik C. Eye protection in dental laboratories. Journal of dental technology: the peer-reviewed publication of the National Association of Dental Laboratories. 1997; 14(7):22-26.