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PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the relationship between musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and vibration in dental hygiene students as a pilot for a larger scale study. METHODS: A custom-designed questionnaire was distributed to three intact student groups: those accepted for admission, those at the end of the first year, and graduating students at the end of the second year. Data were analyzed using tabular and multivariate analysis. Students increased their use of ultrasonic instruments from 0.2 to 2.8 to 7.3 hours per week over the three years. Dental hygiene students with symptoms of numbness in the upper extremities used ultrasonic scalers a mean of 8.2 hours per week compared to 2.8 hours of use by students with no upper extremity numbness. These students also used manual instruments 10.1 hours and 4.8 hours per week, respectively. RESULTS: Logistic regression revealed a significant association between hours of use of ultrasonics and upper extremity numbness/tingling, with an odds ratio of 1.10 for each increased hour of use (95% CI 1.01-1.19; chi-square = 4.9). A similar result was found for manual instrument use. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that musculoskeletal disorder symptoms may increase with the use of ultrasonic and/or manual instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of opportunities are available for women in nontraditional, blue-collar work. However, for many women the lack of job skills, poor work conditions, differential treatment, shift work, and heavy physical labor deter them from entering or remaining in such jobs. This case study attempted to uncover workplace issues, the socialization process, and adaptive strategies for a female steel worker. Her strategies for survival included hard work, high work standards, "courteous but cool" relationships with coworkers, "standing up" for herself, and good friends or support systems.