Examining the Concordance between ART and ERIN Methods in the Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Choosing the right method for assessing musculoskeletal disorders in work environments can be useful for identifying risk factors and preventing them. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the agreement between ART and ERIN methods in evaluating skeletal-muscular disorders in dentists.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 38 dental students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. In order to collect research data, ART and ERIN worksheets were used. Data were analyzed using Stata software (version 14). P<0.05 was considered a significant level for all statistical tests.

The research population included 20 (52.63%) women and 18 (47.37%) men. The mean and standard deviation of the age of women was 29.35 ± 2.68 years with a work experience of 3.2 years, and the mean and standard deviation of the age of men was 31.16 ± 3.25 years with a work experience of 3.33 years. The risk level in the ERIN method was high, and in the ART method, on both the right and left sides of the body was medium. Also, the relationship between the final score of the ERIN method and the final score of the right side of ART with work experience was direct and significant. The level of agreement between the two methods was achieved by using the Kappa coefficient on the right side, which was medium and weak on the left side of the body.

The results showed that the two methods did not have a good agreement; therefore, in order to evaluate discomfort in dentists, it is necessary to choose the appropriate method according to the type of activities performed, the purpose of the study, and the factors influencing the performance of tasks.