Further research is needed to develop an evidence-based applied ergonomics program aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders in this population. HealthDay News — The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) appears to be high for at-risk physicians, according to a review published online in JAMA Surgery. Sherise Epstein, MPH, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of work-related MSDs among at-risk physicians (surgeons and interventionalists). Data were analyzed from 21 articles involving 5828 physicians. The researchers found that the pooled crude prevalence estimates of the most common work-related MSDs were degenerative cervical spine disease, rotator cuff pathology, degenerative lumbar spine disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome in 17%, 18%, 19%, and 9%, respectively. The prevalence of degenerative cervical spine disease and degenerative lumbar spine disease increased by 18.3% and 27%, respectively, from 1997 to 2015. For pain, the pooled prevalence estimates varied from 35% to 60% and differed by instrument of assessment. Twelve percent of those with a work-related MSD required a leave of absence, practice restriction or modification, or early retirement. For all crude analyses, heterogeneity was considerable, but it was lower for sensitivity analyses. A gross lack of awareness and an unmet need for ergonomics education was described by 12 at-risk specialties. "Further research is needed to develop and validate an evidence-based applied ergonomics program aimed at preventing these disorders in this population," the authors write. Source
