Tinnitus Prevalence and Associated Factors among Dental Clinicians in the United Arab Emirates.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 20(2)2023 01 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36674157
ABSTRACT
Dental clinicians are at increased risk for developing tinnitus due to exposure to high levels of occupational noise. This study aimed to determine tinnitus prevalence and associated factors among dental clinicians. Interviews were conducted with 150 randomly selected dental clinicians using a questionnaire. Noise levels were measured at three points of time at the operating area. Tinnitus was reported in 19.33% of the participants. The average noise level was significantly higher among participants with tinnitus compared to those without the condition. More participants complained of intermittent tinnitus and the rest had the constant type, with the latter being significantly more bothersome. The weekly average time of using high-speed handpieces, suction and electric handpieces, age and experience had a significant effect on the presence of tinnitus. Only 2.7% of the participants reported the use of a hearing protection device. Tinnitus is a common finding among dental clinicians especially those with higher levels of occupational noise and more frequent use of noise-generating equipment. Knowledge of tinnitus prevalence aids in realizing the extent of its impact and making informed decisions. These results call for improved awareness of the negative impact of clinically-generated noise and emphasize the importance of preventive measures and periodic audiometry exams.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Zumbido
/
Perda Auditiva Provocada por Ruído
/
Ruído Ocupacional
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Emirados Árabes Unidos