Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in oral health professionals: an umbrella review protocol

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this review is to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and preventive and management interventions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in oral health professionals. Introduction: Oral health professionals face a considerable risk of developing work-related MSD due to the nature of their work. These disorders can lead to loss of employment, reduced job quality, increased occupational injuries, and early retirement. They can also lead to significant financial burdens for employers and society. Inclusion criteria: This umbrella review will include systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have oral health professionals as a population group and address at least one of the following topics: the prevalence or incidence, risk factors, and the efficiency or effectiveness of interventions for the prevention or management of work-related MSD. Methods: A systematic search will be conducted across CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library (OVID), Scopus, PsycINFO (Ovid), AMED Allied and Complementary Medicine (Ovid), Epistemonikos, Ergonomics Abstracts Online (EBSCOhost), and Google Scholar (first 200 articles). The search will be limited to articles published in English, with no restrictions on geographical location. Two independent reviewers will screen the titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria. The studies will be assessed using the JBI critical appraisal instrument for systematic reviews and research syntheses, and data will be extracted from each study using a modified version of the JBI data extraction tool. The GRADE approach will be used to rate the overall quality and strength of the evidence. Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023388779