<![CDATA[Abstrak: Sebagian besar fasilitas pendidikan termasuk kursi kuliah dirancang untuk pengguna tangan kanan, sehingga mahasiswa kidal menulis dengan postur tidak ergonomis yang meningkatkan risiko Musculoskeletal Disorders (MsDs) seperti nyeri punggung dan leher. Postur kerja yang salah dalam jangka panjang dapat memicu ketegangan otot dan kelelahan. Secara global, 1,71 miliar orang mengalami gangguan musculoskeletal salah satu beban kesehatan terbesar. Di Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas Halu Oleo, mahasiswa kidal melaporkan ketidaknyamanan signifikan saat menggunakan kursi berlengan kanan. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain quasi-experimental dengan pre-test post-test pada 30 mahasiswa kidal yang dipilih secara purposive sampling dengan kriteria aktif kuliah dan tidak memiliki riwayat cedera muskuloskeletal. Kelompok intervensi menggunakan kursi ergonomis dengan papan tulis kiri, sedangkan pembanding memakai kursi existing. Keluhan muskuloskeletal diukur menggunakan Nordic Body Map dan postur dinilai dengan Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Hasil menunjukkan penurunan signifikan ketidaknyamanan setelah penggunaan kursi ergonomis (p=0,001), meski perbaikan postur belum optimal. Kesimpulannya, kursi ergonomis sesuai dominasi tangan efektif meningkatkan kenyamanan dan berpotensi menurunkan risiko MsDs pada mahasiswa kidal.Abstract: Most educational facilities, including lecture chairs, are designed for right-handed users, forcing left-handed students to adopt non-ergonomic postures that increase the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), such as back and neck pain. Prolonged improper posture can lead to muscle strain and fatigue. Globally, approximately 1.71 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, making them one of the leading global health burdens. At the Faculty of Public Health, Halu Oleo University, left-handed students reported significant discomfort when using right-handed armchairs. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test approach involving 30 left-handed students selected through purposive sampling, based on criteria of being actively enrolled and having no history of musculoskeletal injury. The intervention group used ergonomically designed chairs with left-side writing boards, while the comparison group used standard chairs. Musculoskeletal complaints were assessed using the Nordic Body Map, and posture was evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). The results indicated a significant reduction in discomfort after using ergonomic chairs (p = 0.001), although posture improvement remained suboptimal. In conclusion, ergonomic chairs designed according to hand dominance effectively enhance comfort and have the potential to reduce MSDs risk among left-handed students.]]>
