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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2022; 10(05): E562-E569
DOI: 10.1055/a-1789-0506
Original article

Gastrointestinal endoscopy and work-related injuries: an international survey

Veronica Bessone
1   Department of Endoscope Engineering, Ambu Innovation GmbH, Augsburg, Germany
,
Sven Adamsen
2   Department of Clinical Application Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark
3   Digestive Disease Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Do we even lift, bros?Endosc Int Open 2022; 10(05): E570-E571
DOI: 10.1055/a-1797-1936

Abstract

Background and study aims Recently, the awareness of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) among gastrointestinal endoscopists has increased because of their effect on the private and work life of clinicians as well as on the health care system. The high injury incidence (reported to range from 37 % to 89 %) has been correlated with the intensive muscular demand required during a procedure.

Patients and methods An online survey with 32 questions was conducted globally. Clinically active endoscopists (doctors and nurses) participated anonymously and voluntarily. The questionnaire included questions about endoscopist anthropometrics, experience of MSI, treatment, and preventive measures such as ergonomic training. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results Of 204 clinicians (78 % males; 81 % > 35 years of age), 107 (53 %) stated to have experienced a work-related MSI. The most frequent locations were in the neck (n = 49), shoulder and thumb (n = 39, both). Female clinicians resulted to be significantly more prone to develop MSI. In addition, endoscopists who performed more than 15 hours of endoscopy or more than 15 procedures per week reported a significantly higher rate of MSI.

Conclusions The high frequency of MSIs among gastrointestinal endoscopists highlights the importance of implementing ergonomic training. Including simple precautions before and during endoscopy may reduce the risk of developing an injury.



Publication History

Received: 02 September 2021

Accepted: 03 December 2021

Article published online:
13 May 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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Letter to this article:

Gastrointestinal endoscopy and work-related injuries: an international survey - letter to editorEndosc Int Open 2024; 12(03): E339-E339
DOI: 10.1055/a-2241-7843

 

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