Ergonomics and GI Endoscopy

Details

• Personal Author:
  McQuaid KR ; Rempel D ; Shergill AK
• Description:
  Gastroenterologists are at risk for overuse injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, and lateral epicondylitis due to the repetition and prolonged awkward postures associated with endoscopy. Much attention has been paid to the safety of patients during endoscopic procedures, but the safety of the physician is often forgotten. Indeed, the rigorous training and increasing demand for colonoscopy have made the gastroenterologist a commodity in today's workplace. Survey-based studies estimate a 37% to 89% prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among gastroenterologists, although the proportion of occupation-related injuries is unknown. According to a recent American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) survey, gastroenterologists spend 43% of their time performing endoscopy, and increased endoscopy volume is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Ergonomics is the study of the physical and cognitive demands of a task in relation to an individual's capacity. In effect, ergonomics evaluates how a job can best be fit to an individual, instead of forcing an individual to fit into a job. Because work-related injuries can be devastating to a physician's livelihood, it is important for physicians to be educated on ergonomic principles to minimize the risk for endoscopy-related injury. We herein review the available literature on the prevalence, risk factors, and potential mechanisms for upper extremity and neck injuries in endoscopists and propose general ergonomic guidelines to reduce these risks. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ergonomics Health Personnel Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety
• Keywords:
  Arm Injuries Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CTS Health Care Personnel Medical Examinations MSD Muscle Function Musculoskeletal Disorders Neck Injuries Physicians Risk Management Upper Extremities

  More +
• ISSN:
  0016-5107
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  145-153
• Volume:
  70
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053750
• Citation:
  Gastrointest Endosc 2009 Jul; 70(1):145-153
• Contact Point Address:
  Amandeep Shergill, MD, GI Section, San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement St, Bldg 203 (111B1), San Francisco, CA 94121
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ea1ccfbed8967594ad08e94019c851d05ce3d0f1a7227e85f2746288c182de32777f4004b85498c52bc48203108c044fe6def98191f6dbcc48310a9b4ca66c20
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216461/cdc_216461_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 353.32 KB ]