Feng Qingmin, Liu Shenglin, Yang Lei, Xie Mingxing, Zhang Qiang
Department of Medical Engineering, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, China.
Healthcare Ergonomics Lab, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, China.
PLoS One. 2016 Oct 3;11(10):e0163903. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163903. eCollection 2016.
Studies from industrialized countries show that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) occur commonly in sonographers. However, little is known about sonographers in China, where the awareness of ergonomics and MSD, workload, and available equipment/facilities may differ. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSD and associated risk factors in sonographers in central China.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 381 sonographers from 14 randomly selected tertiary hospitals in Hubei province, central China. Musculoskeletal symptoms (using the Nordic Questionnaire) and risk factors (mostly derived from the Health Benefit Trust survey instrument and the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire) were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to quantify associations between risk factors and MSD.
The 12-month period prevalence of MSD was 98.3%, being highest in the neck (93.5%) and shoulder (92.2%), followed by the lower back (83.2%), wrist/hand, upper back, and elbow. Factors contributing to neck pain were psychological fatigue, shoulder abduction and trunk bend-and-twist posture. Height-adjustable tables and chairs were protective factors. Shoulder pain was associated with female sex, health status, mental stress, shoulder abduction, and trunk bend-and-twist posture. Height-adjustable chairs and the awareness of adjusting the workstation before scanning were protective factors. Elbow pain was associated with health status and height-adjustable tables. Wrist/hand pain was associated with female sex, bending the wrist, and working with obese patients. Upper back pain was associated with shoulder abduction, height-adjustable chairs, and device location. Lower back pain was associated with the number of scans performed per day, awkward postures, bending the trunk, twisting or bending the neck forward, and using a footrest.
This study suggests a high prevalence of MSD in sonographers in central China. Hence, it is necessary to improve the awareness of MSD by training, and the ergonomics of their current work environment by addressing physical workload, and psychological and equipment/facility-related factors.
来自工业化国家的研究表明，肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）在超声检查医师中普遍存在。然而，对于中国的超声检查医师，人们了解甚少，因为中国在人体工程学和MSD意识、工作量以及可用设备/设施方面可能存在差异。我们旨在调查中国中部地区超声检查医师中MSD的患病率及相关危险因素。
对来自中国中部湖北省14家随机选取的三级医院的381名超声检查医师进行了横断面调查。记录了肌肉骨骼症状（使用北欧问卷）和危险因素（大多源自健康福利信托调查工具和荷兰肌肉骨骼问卷）。采用多因素逻辑回归分析来量化危险因素与MSD之间的关联。
MSD的12个月患病率为98.3%，在颈部（93.5%）和肩部（92.2%）最高，其次是下背部（83.2%）、手腕/手部、上背部和肘部。导致颈部疼痛的因素有心理疲劳、肩部外展以及躯干弯曲和扭转姿势。可调节高度的桌子和椅子是保护因素。肩部疼痛与女性、健康状况、精神压力、肩部外展以及躯干弯曲和扭转姿势有关。可调节高度的椅子以及扫描前调整工作站的意识是保护因素。肘部疼痛与健康状况和可调节高度的桌子有关。手腕/手部疼痛与女性、手腕弯曲以及为肥胖患者检查有关。上背部疼痛与肩部外展、可调节高度的椅子以及设备位置有关。下背部疼痛与每天的扫描次数、不良姿势、躯干弯曲、颈部向前扭转或弯曲以及使用脚凳有关。
本研究表明中国中部地区超声检查医师中MSD的患病率较高。因此，有必要通过培训提高对MSD的认识，并通过解决身体工作量以及心理和设备/设施相关因素来改善他们当前工作环境的人体工程学状况。
