Clin Endosc.  2021 May;54(3):356-362. 10.5946/ce.2020.200.

Ergonomic Injuries in Endoscopists and Their Risk Factors

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2Department of Murshid Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background/Aims
Prolonged repetitive strain caused by the continuous performance of complex endoscopic procedures enhances the risk of ergonomic injuries among health-care providers (HCPs), specifically endoscopists. This study aimed to assess the risk factors of ergonomic injuries among endoscopists and non-endoscopists.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gastroenterology Department of Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 92 HCPs were enrolled, of whom 61 were involved in endoscopic procedures and 31 were non-endoscopists. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire during national gastroenterology conferences and analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp. Chicago, IL, USA).
Results
Of the total study population, 95.08% of endoscopists were observed to have ergonomic injuries, whereas only 54.83% of non-endoscopists had ergonomic injuries (p<0.00). The most common injury associated with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain sites was back (41%), leg (23%), and hand (19.7%) pain among endoscopists. Of 28 endoscopists performing ≥20 procedures/week, 26 had MSK injury. However, 95.08% of endoscopists had developed MSK injury irrespective of working hours (>5 or <5 hr/wk).
Conclusions
Endoscopists are at high risk of developing ergonomic injuries, representing the negative potential of the endoscopy-associated workload. To overcome these issues, an appropriate strategic framework needs to be designed to avoid occupational compromises.

Keyword

Endoscopy; Ergonomics; Health-care providers; Musculoskeletal injury; Occupational performance

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Site of musculoskeletal pain among endoscopists and non-endoscopists.

  • Fig. 2. Treatments preferred by endoscopists and non-endoscopists for ergonomic injuries and musculoskeletal pain.


Cited by  1 articles

Musculoskeletal Pains and Their Risk Factors in Endoscopists
Gi-young Park
Clin Endosc. 2021;54(3):295-296.    doi: 10.5946/ce.2021.132.


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