Comparative study on awareness about carpal tunnel syndrome among dental professionals in India and Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common medical condition that occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the carpal tunnel. Many people, particularly females, in the general population are affected with CTS. This study aims to determine the level of awareness of CTS among dental professionals in India and Malaysia. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out among dentists in India and Ma - laysian, from August 2020 to November 2020. 150 professional dentists with a minimum of one year of work experience were included in the study. Dentists who worked full-time as academicians were excluded. The survey form was circulated using WhatsApp. The SPSS software package was used to analyze the data collected from the sample. Results: Both Indian and Malaysian participants thought that the main symptom is tingling and numbness. Both groups stated that minimizing the stress on the wrist would prevent CTS. 100% of Malaysian participants thought that CTS could affect job performance, though those from Indian marked that it also affects social life and sleep. Conclusion: The awareness of CTS among both Indian and Malaysian dentists was adequate. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between CTS and chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis.