The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Among Dentists in Central Java, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

¹ Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
² Master of Applied Occupational Health and Safety, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
³ Department of Safety Engineering, AMNI Semarang Maritime University, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia
⁵ Doctoral Program of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁶ Department of Hospital Administration, Universitas 'Aisyiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding drg.dwiwindu@unimus.ac.id

Abstract

The high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dentists is primarily attributed to the nature of their work. Prolonged awkward postures, repetitive tool use, high force exertion, and individual characteristics contribute to the increased occurrence of MSDs among dental professionals. This study employed an observational, cross-sectional design involving 72 respondents selected through a total sampling technique, consisting of dentists who had been actively practicing for more than one year. The independent variables were age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), while MSDs were measured using the Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire. Results showed that most respondents were aged 45– 64 years (90.3%), female (90.3%), and overweight (55.6%). The Chi-square test revealed significant associations between gender (p = 0.001) and BMI (p = 0.000) with MSDs, whereas age (p = 0.435) showed no significant relationship. The prevalence of MSDs among dentists was categorized as high, moderate, and low. These findings highlight the need for preventive and ergonomic interventions to reduce the risk and severity of MSDs in dental practitioners.