El-Helaly Mohamed, Balkhy Hanan H, Vallenius Laura
Department of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City.
Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University.
J Occup Health. 2017 Nov 25;59(6):513-520. doi: 10.1539/joh.16-0279-OA. Epub 2017 Aug 31.
Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been reported in different occupations, including laboratory technicians, so this study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the associated personal and ergonomic factors for CTS among laboratory technicians.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 279 laboratory technicians at King Fahd Hospital, Saudi Arabia, who filled in a self-administered questionnaire, including questions regarding their demographic criteria, occupational history, job tasks, workplace tools, ergonomic factors at work, and symptoms suggestive of CTS. Physical examinations and electrodiagnostic studies were carried out for those who had symptoms suggestive of CTS to confirm the diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed for both personal and physical factors in association with confirmed CTS among laboratory technicians.
The prevalence of CTS among the laboratory technicians was 9.7% (27/279). The following were the statistically significant risk factors for CTS among them: gender (all cases of CTS were female, P=0.00), arm/hand exertion (OR: 7.96; 95% CI: 1.84-34.33), pipetting (OR: 7.27; 95% CI: 3.15-16.78), repetitive tasks (OR: 4.60; 95% CI: 1.39-15.70), using unadjustable chairs or desks (OR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.23-9.15), and working with a biosafety cabinet (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.11-5.59). CTS cases had significant longer work duration (17.9 ± 5.6 years) than CTS non-case (11.5 ± 7.4 yeas) with low OR (1.108).
This study demonstrates some personal and ergonomic factors associated with CTS among the laboratory technicians, including female gender, arm/hand exertion, pipetting, repetitive tasks, working with a biosafety cabinet, and an unadjusted workstation.
不同职业中均有与工作相关的腕管综合征（CTS）的报道，其中包括实验室技术员，因此开展本研究以确定实验室技术员中CTS的患病率以及相关的个人因素和人体工程学因素。
对沙特阿拉伯法赫德国王医院的279名实验室技术员进行了一项横断面研究，他们填写了一份自填式问卷，内容包括人口统计学标准、职业史、工作任务、工作场所工具、工作中的人体工程学因素以及提示CTS的症状等问题。对那些有提示CTS症状的人员进行了体格检查和电诊断研究以确诊。对实验室技术员中与确诊CTS相关的个人因素和身体因素进行了单因素和多因素分析。
实验室技术员中CTS的患病率为9.7%（27/279）。其中以下是CTS的统计学显著危险因素：性别（所有CTS病例均为女性，P = 0.00）、手臂/手部用力（OR：7.96；95%CI：1.84 - 34.33）、移液操作（OR：7.27；95%CI：3.15 - 16.78）、重复性任务（OR：4.60；95%CI：1.39 - 15.70）、使用不可调节的椅子或桌子（OR：3.35；95%CI：1.23 - 9.15）以及在生物安全柜中工作（OR：2.49；95%CI：1.11 - 5.59）。CTS病例的工作时长（17.9±5.6年）显著长于非CTS病例（11.5±7.4年），OR值较低（1.108）。
本研究表明实验室技术员中与CTS相关的一些个人因素和人体工程学因素，包括女性性别、手臂/手部用力、移液操作、重复性任务、在生物安全柜中工作以及未调整的工作站。
