title: Musculoskeletal disorders in a 3 year longitudinal cohort of dental hygiene students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant occupational health issue for the dental hygiene profession. There is increasing evidence that these problems commence during undergraduate training; however, there is a surprising lack of studies investigating how MSD develops in student groups over the course of their study. The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal MSD trends among a cohort of undergraduate dental hygiene students at an Australian university.
  
  
  METHODS
  A previously validated self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to dental hygiene students in 3 consecutive years from 2008 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSDs were most commonly reported in the neck (ranging from 66 to 68%) and lower back (ranging from 61 to 68%), with a marked increase in reported lower back pain by the final year of study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study not only supports mounting evidence that MSDs are a common problem for dental hygiene students, but further demonstrates the magnitude of this occupational health issue across the training program. These findings are concerning for a group yet to embark on their professional careers, given that it raises some serious questions about career longevity and the efficacy of preventive measures.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology
keywords: dental hygiene; musculoskeletal disorders; occupational health; students