Taking the strain out of endoscopy
An Australian study published in the journal of Ergonomics has examined the musculoskeletal problems that are taking a toll on endoscopists’ working lives and everyday activities. The research surveyed 81 endoscopists about their workload, pain and injuries, and approaches to prevention, with 61.7% reporting current or previous endoscopy-related musculoskeletal disorders (ErMSD).
The left thumb and left hand were the most common reported injury sites. This correlates with the fact that handling an endoscope involves repeated movements, including turning control wheels and gripping the insertion tube. Practitioners reporting musculoskeletal problems performed an average of 13.6 colonoscopies a week, compared to nine among those that didn’t report suffering health issues. It’s important to note the scale study couldn’t determine whether higher workloads were the cause of the injuries.
In addition, just over half (51.1%) of respondents with ErMSD reported it disrupted their personal lives. This included impacting sleep, completing household tasks, exercise and hobbies. About 57% of them required treatment, and around 14.9% had taken time off as a result of ErMSD.
Despite these issues, the study found that ergonomics training was uncommon. Adjusting the height of beds and monitoring table heights were some of the preventive measures reported, and only 14% of the practitioners who reported injuries said they took regular breaks.
The research highlighted the need for larger studies to guide preventive programmes, as well as a focus on understanding the risks of musculoskeletal disorders for other members of endoscopy teams, such as nurses and technicians. These findings underline the importance of protecting healthcare professionals to ensure they can continue to help patients, while remaining pain-free outside of work.
