Thompson Sophie K, Mason Eileen, Dukes Stephanie
Department of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences, Cytotechnology Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, USA.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2003 Dec;29(6):364-7. doi: 10.1002/dc.10377.
Analysis of this survey of 244 responding cytotechnologists shows that a high percentage still suffer from musculoskeletal disorders commonly associated with poor ergonomic design in the workplace, despite the variety of ergonomically designed microscopes that have been introduced into the market. Although Kalavar and Hunting surveyed a small group of cytotechnologists in the Washington, DC, area in 1996, no broad-based study has focused specifically on these professionals. The landmark study of microscope ergonomics, published by Soderberg in 1980, documented widespread musculoskeletal complaints in the electronics industry. This article identifies and discusses the types of musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by cytotechnologists. We propose that both practicing and student cytotechnologists receive training in ergonomic principles and appropriate interventions, such as improved work practices, proper ergonomic aids, well-designed workstations, and ergonomically designed equipment. More than 85% of respondents reported some musculoskeletal discomfort. Among the symptoms presented are headache, neck pain and stiffness, pain of the lower and upper back, and upper-extremity discomfort. Neurological symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, and/or pain in the hand and fingers, are often associated with repetitive motion. More than one-third reported numbness, tingling, and/or pain in the left-hand fingers, usually used for the fine-focus control knob. Almost one-half of respondents reported such symptoms for the right hand and fingers, normally used to manipulate the mechanical stage controls. Only 9% of the respondents were left-handed. Most (91%) were right handed. Although just over one-third (34.4%) of respondents worked for an employer with an ergonomics program, ergonomic assessments had been performed for only about one-half (17.6%) of these. In addition, approximately 10% of respondents indicated that ergonomics assessments had been performed on their workstations, even though the employer did not have an ergonomics program. Because of the high prevalence of reported symptoms, we recommend that all cytologists be trained in basic ergonomic principles and the proper use of ergonomic aids. These interventions should reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort in medical microscopists.
对244名做出回应的细胞技术专家的这项调查分析表明，尽管市场上已推出了各种符合人体工程学设计的显微镜，但仍有很大比例的人患有通常与工作场所不良人体工程学设计相关的肌肉骨骼疾病。虽然卡拉瓦尔和亨廷1996年在华盛顿特区地区对一小群细胞技术专家进行了调查，但尚无一项广泛的研究专门针对这些专业人员。索德伯格1980年发表的具有里程碑意义的显微镜人体工程学研究记录了电子行业普遍存在的肌肉骨骼不适症状。本文识别并讨论了细胞技术专家所经历的肌肉骨骼不适类型。我们建议执业细胞技术专家和学生细胞技术专家都接受人体工程学原理及适当干预措施方面的培训，如改进工作方法、使用合适的人体工程学辅助工具、设计良好的工作站以及符合人体工程学设计的设备。超过85%的受访者报告有一些肌肉骨骼不适。所呈现的症状包括头痛、颈部疼痛和僵硬、下背部和上背部疼痛以及上肢不适。神经症状，如手部和手指麻木、刺痛和/或疼痛，通常与重复性动作有关。超过三分之一的受访者报告左手手指有麻木、刺痛和/或疼痛，左手通常用于微调对焦控制旋钮。近一半的受访者报告右手和手指有此类症状，右手通常用于操作机械载物台控制装置。只有9%的受访者是左撇子。大多数（91%）是右撇子。虽然略超过三分之一（34.4%）的受访者受雇于设有人体工程学项目的雇主，但其中只有约一半（17.6%）接受过人体工程学评估。此外，约10%的受访者表示，即使雇主没有人体工程学项目，他们的工作站也接受过人体工程学评估。由于报告症状的发生率很高，我们建议所有细胞学家接受基本人体工程学原理及正确使用人体工程学辅助工具方面的培训。这些干预措施应能降低医学显微镜操作人员肌肉骨骼不适的发生率。
