To investigate the symptom prevalence and aspects of symptoms for cumulative trauma disorders in dentists and elucidate their associated factors.

A questionnaire-based investigation on demographic factors, work-related characteristics, psychosocial factors and symptoms of 512 dentists practicing in Daegu metropolitan city was conducted. Subsets of psychosocial characteristics, including job demand(5 items), psychosomatic strain(5 items), job insecurity, and type A behavior were also assessed. For the evaluation of symptoms early developed questionnaire by Song(1997)was used to investigate the parameters related to pains in the neck, shoulder, arm and elbow, wrist, finger, back or discomforts, such as pricking and numbing.

The symptom prevalence of cumulative trauma disorders, calculated based on NIOSH criteria, was high at 63.3 %; the most frequent site of complaint was the shoulder, followed by neck, back, hand and wrist, knee, foot and ankle. The most common approach position was direction of 9 to 10 o'clock. Most subjects had 5-10 years of work experience and those with such years of experience also complained most frequently of symptoms in the neck and shoulder areas. As to rate of symptom complaint according to the type of dental procedure, the highest rate was associated to periodontic treatment. According to age, those between the age of 30-40 had the highest symptom prevalence rate at 70 %. According to sex, women had the higher symptom prevalence rate. Unmarried subjects also had higher symptom prevalence rate. The results of logistic analysis showed that the higher the psychosomatic strain and job demand, the higher the symptom prevalence rate of cumulative trauma disorders. Moreover, the higher the score of type A behavior, the higher the symptom prevalence rate, and even those who changed the location of their practice for the last three months also showed high symptom prevalence rate.

The results of multiple logistic regression analysis, which incorporated demographic, work-related and psychosocial characteristics as independent variables, showed that women were at a higher risk than men in developing cumulative trauma disorders; and that the higher the psychosomatic strain and more frequent type A behavior, the higher the risk of developing cumulative trauma disorders. The above results seem to suggest that not only continual, repeated fine and skillful musculoskeletal movements and lengthy hours in an uncomfortable position but also the psychological stress related to patient satisfaction, can lead to cumulative trauma disorders.