2011 Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 143-148
We previously reported on the prevalence and contributory factors of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) for persons working in the Tokyo metropolis using a TMD screening questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a feeling of fatigue (OR=1.55) among males who were positive for TMD as a significant factor, and feelings of depression (OR=1.37) and fatigue (OR=1.30) among females who were positive for TMD. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate gender-related concerns between job contents and TMD.
Methods: With the cooperation of the Tokyo Dental Association, we carried out are questionnaire survey of applicants for dental check-up at 13 general dental offices in Tokyo. Responses were obtained from 253 subjects and were used as secondary data for analysis. As we excluded the subjects who replied that their commuting time was 0, a total of 180 subjects were included. The questionnaire included four TMD screening questions, gender, age, and eight job content questions, and the answers were analyzed mainly by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Mean age did not show a difference. Regarding differences in job contents by gender, men had a significantly "long driving time" and "long meeting time", and women had a "long time before going to bed" (correction value: p=0.05/9=0.0055). As for "personal computer (PC) operation time", there was no difference between the sexes. There was also no difference in job contents between the positive TMD group and the negative group. "PC operation time" was significant with an odds ratio of 1.85 (p=0.031) in subjects only for women by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion: It is suggested that gender and age affected the relationship between TMD and job contents. Although no direct relation was confirmed, using a PC at work for females was identified as a contributory factor for TMD.
