Assessment of quality of life among dental practitioners using magnification devices during nonsurgical root canal treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted to assess the effect of magnification devices (MDs) during nonsurgical root canal treatment (RCT) on quality of life (QOL) among dental professionals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The dental practitioners performing endodontic treatment were evaluated for ergonomic, postural, psychological, and financial issues associated with and without the use of MDs. Materials and Methodology: A total of 1650 dental professionals (general dentists and endodontists) were recruited from public and private sectors of Saudi Arabia from October 2021 to December 2021. The World Health Organization's QOL assessment questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was administered to conduct the study. The questionnaire addressed four domains of QOL which included physical, psychological, procedural, and financial. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software® version 23.0. Descriptive analysis, ANOVA test, and unpaired t-test were used. Results: All dental professionals completed the survey. 41.5% reported the use of MDs out of which dental loupe was most commonly used. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were the most frequent physical difficulty which was faced by 61.5% of dental practitioners while performing RCT. 80% of DPs revealed that MDs improve manual abilities while performing RCT. MDs also relieved psychological, physical, and postural stress by 49.2%, 64.6%, and 63%, respectively. Further 72% of the dental professionals reported improved quality of work after the usage of MD. Conclusion: MDs are commonly used by dental professionals during RCT in Saudi Arabia. It is believed that its use can lead to a better ergonomic, postural, and psychological state of these dental professionals.