Musculoskeletal disorders and selecting an appropriate tool for ergonomic risk assessment in the dental profession.

BACKGROUND: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are major challenges in the occupational health services industry. Dental practitioners are regularly subjected to ergonomic risks, which can cause Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in various body regions. OBJECTIVE: This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to investigate MSDs and select a proper ergonomic risk assessment method in dental practice. METHODS: This study was conducted on 70 dentists and 70 administrative staff of dental offices (comparison group) from Shahroud, Iran. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and two observational ergonomic risk assessment methods, including Quick Exposure Check (QEC) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), were utilized. RESULTS: The results suggested that the mean score of musculoskeletal discomforts was significantly higher in dentists than in the administrative personnel. Additionally, the results of multiple regression analysis technique inferred that job tenure, working hours, and age had a significant impact on total MSDs. Regular exercise was found to significantly reduce neck discomfort complaints. It was also found that QEC was more effective in predicting musculoskeletal discomforts compared to REBA. CONCLUSION: Considering the high incidence of WMSDs in dentists, various interventional measures revolving around ergonomically redesigned workstations, enhanced physical working conditions, and ergonomic training courses are suggested.

Prevalence of self-reported work-related illness and injuries among building construction workers, Shiraz, Iran.

The construction industry is one of the largest and most hazardous industries in the world, which has a direct role in the development of countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported work-related illness and injuries among construction workers in Shiraz, Iran. 850 randomly selected workers from 2450 construction sites completed a self-statement questionnaire regarding the prevalence of self-reported work-related illness and injuries (WRIIs), in Shiraz, Iran. The association of WRII with demographic variables were studied. The overall prevalence rate of occupational injuries was 31 %. Musculoskeletal disorders (53.3 %), eye diseases (34.1 %) and skin diseases (30.1 %) have been the most prevalent work-related illnesses among construction workers, respectively. The prevalence of WRIIs among construction workers was significantly associated with age, education, marriage, work experience, safety training programs and number of workers in the workplace as well as employment status. Considering the high prevalence of WRIIs among construction workers, more stringent occupational safety and health interventions are recommended in construction workplaces.

Multiple sclerosis-A disease on a dramatically rising trend in Iran: Review of possible reasons.

There has been a global rising trend in recent years in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite being an MS low-risk region, this disease has also been recently on the rise in the Middle East. As part of the Middle East, Iran has not been spared either; however, the cause of this dramatic increase remains to be discovered. This study reviews possible reasons for this increase in Iran. Although many factors such as the increased rate of smoking, lifestyle changes, modernization, and contact with toxic solvents can be proposed as reasons for this sudden rise in the prevalence of MS in Iran, these factors cannot be taken as definite causes and further studies are required to prove their impact.