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Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

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  • Title: The painful truth: work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Australian surgeons.
    Author: Grant KMK, Vo T, Tiong LU.
    Journal: Occup Med (Lond); 2020 Mar 12; 70(1):60-63. PubMed ID: 31829426.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMD) is a collective term for preventable work-related disorders that cause musculoskeletal symptoms. The growing prevalence of these disorders amongst surgeons has been labelled an 'impending epidemic' and currently there is a lack of awareness and no existing intervention programme. AIMS: To estimate prevalence and identify risk factors for developing work related neck, shoulder and upper back pain in surgeons. METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of surgeons and surgical trainees across Australia. We collected data on demographics, nature of regular operative work, hours working/operating per week, and prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal disorders based on the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire [1]. We assessed associations between categorical predictors and pain over 7 days and 12 months using Pearson's chi-square test. We assessed associations involving continuous variables using Student's t-test. Tests were two-tailed and assessed at the 5% alpha level. RESULTS: From ~2058 recipients, 329 (16%) responded; 137 (42%) surgeons reported shoulder, neck or upper back pain in a 7-day period, 245 (75%) reported pain and 101 (31%) had pain preventing normal work in a 12-month period. Significant predictors of increased prevalence included female sex (P < 0.001), decreasing age (P < 0.01) and fewer years working (P < 0.01). Body mass index (BMI) and mode of practise did not significantly affect prevalence of WRMDs. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of WRMDs amongst surgeons is high, females and younger surgeons reporting increased rates. There is a need to build awareness and educate surgical trainees about WRMDs.
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