PREVALENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AMONGST THE DENTAL STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY - A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY
Keywords:
occupational injury, third year, final year, interns, graduates and the post-graduates dental studentAbstract
Aim: To access the prevalence of occupational injuries amongst the third year, final year, interns, graduates and the post-graduates dental students of Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India.
Materials and Methods: The present cross sectional questionnaire study was conducted in the Ahmedabad Dental College, to access the prevalence of occupational injuries amongst the third year, final year, interns, graduates and the post-graduates dental students of Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. The sample size included 165 dental students. The survey was scheduled to spread over a period of 1 month. Data was collected by using self-designed questionnaire (Annexure-C). The questionnaire was developed in English. Questionnaire was administered by the investigator himself to each participant on the scheduled days and collected back on the next visit. Collected data was coded, compiled and tabulated. The data was analysed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Analysis was carried out using SPSS package version 17.
Result: Amongst the 165 students, females were 123 and males were 42. The prevalence of the occupational injury was incredibly high in females (94/123) as compared to males (21/42). The department causing the highest rate of injuries is in the Conservative department in both the genders, with the next being Prosthodontics and Periodontics Department. The instrument causing the highest rate of injury is the scalers and burs.
Conclusion: Thus through the inference of this questionnaire, one can conclude that the prevalence of the occupational injury using these sharp instruments is not only high but surely exceeded its limits. And this injury can surely be the major reason for the spread of blood borne transmission diseases i'e Hepatitis B etc. Thus one has to take care regarding the immunization of Hepatitis B, reporting of the injuries etc.