title: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder and alternative medicine therapies among dentists of North India: A descriptive study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health professionals especially the dental professional are the frequent targets of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can be of some help in managing these MSD especially in. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of CAM therapies as a treatment modality for MSD management among dental professionals of north India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registered dentist of North Indian origin, India (n = 3598) were included in the study. The questionnaire was sent to all the dentists which consisted of the demographic profile, MSD in the past year, CAM therapies utilization and opinion about CAM therapies. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21 and data were presented in tabular and graphic form. Test of significance was done using chi-square statistics with P < 0.05 considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 80% (n = 2879) was obtained, and all complained of MDS in some or the other part of their life. The use of CAM was reported among 70% (n = 2015) of the dentist who suffered from MSD. Other dentists either used conventional treatment or did not use anything.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the name implies, alternative medical systems is a category that extends beyond a single modality and refers to an entire system of theory and practice that developed separately from conventional medicine. CAM should be subject to rigorous scientific inquiry so that interventions that work are systematically distinguished from those that do not. In addition, the use of CAM treatments should be based on evidence of effectiveness and safety as demonstrated in randomized clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Institute of Dental Science, Bareilly, General Secretary, International Society for Holistic Dentistry, Uttrakhand, India.
authors.forename: Devanand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vaidik Dental College and Research Centre, Daman, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, JSS Dental college and hospital, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative, endodontics and esthetics dentistry, JSS Dental college and hospital, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: Harshad K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tippanawar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Ankita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, DJ College of Dental Science and research, Modinagar, India.
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaggi
authors.affiliation: Principal, Government Degree college, Banbasa, India.
authors.forename: Rajendra Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Consultant Stomatologist, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India.
authors.forename: Purnima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garg
keywords: Acupuncture; dentist; massage; musculoskeletal disorders