Department of Cardiac Technology, College of Applied Medial Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2023 May 5;18(5):e0285369. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285369. eCollection 2023.
Evidence related to work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMSP) among cardiac sonographers is incomplete. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, consequences, and awareness of WRMSP among cardiac sonographers compared with other healthcare workers in different healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia.
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, survey-based study. An electronic self-administered survey using a modified version of the Nordic questionnaire was distributed to cardiac sonographers and control participants of other healthcare professions exposed to different occupational hazards. The χ2 test and logistic regression were performed to compare groups.
In total, 308 participants completed the survey (mean age: 32.1±8.4; females: 207(68.1%)): 152(49.4%) sonographers and 156(50.6%) controls. WRMSP was more prevalent among cardiac sonographers than controls(84.8% vs 64.7%, p<0.0001), even after adjustment for age, sex, height, weight, BMI, education, years in current position, work-setting, and regular exercise(odds ratio [95% CI]: 3.0[1.54, 5.82], p = 0.001). Pain was more severe(p = 0.020) and lasted longer among cardiac sonographers(p = 0.050). The most affected body regions were the shoulders(63.2% vs 24.4%), hands(55.9% vs 18.6%), neck(51.3% vs 35.9), and elbows(23% vs 4.5%; p<0.01 for all). Pain in cardiac sonographers interfered with daily and social activities and interrupted their work-related activities(p<0.05 for all). More cardiac sonographers had plans to change profession(43.4% vs 15.8%; p<0.0001). A higher proportion of cardiac sonographers were aware of WRMSP(81% vs 77%) and its potential risks(70% vs 67%). However, cardiac sonographers infrequently utilised recommended preventative ergonomic measures for improving work practices, received insufficient ergonomics education and training on the risks and prevention of WRMSP, and had insufficient ergonomic work environment and support from employers.
WRMSP was more frequent and more severe in cardiac sonographers than in controls and adversely impacted their daily, social, and work-related activities, and future employment plans. Despite high awareness of WRMSP and its potential risks, cardiac sonographers infrequently utilised recommended preventative ergonomic measures and had insufficient ergonomic work environment and support from employers.
心脏超声医师与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疼痛（WRMSP）相关的证据并不完整。本研究旨在调查沙特阿拉伯不同医疗环境中与其他医疗保健工作者相比，心脏超声医师中 WRMSP 的患病率、特征、后果和意识。
这是一项描述性、横断面、基于调查的研究。使用北欧问卷的修改版，向心脏超声医师和暴露于不同职业危害的其他医疗保健专业的对照参与者分发电子自我管理调查。采用卡方检验和逻辑回归比较组间差异。
共有 308 名参与者完成了调查（平均年龄：32.1±8.4；女性：207（68.1%））：152（49.4%）名超声医师和 156（50.6%）名对照。心脏超声医师的 WRMSP 患病率高于对照组（84.8%比 64.7%，p<0.0001），即使在校正年龄、性别、身高、体重、BMI、教育程度、当前职位年限、工作环境和定期锻炼后（比值比[95%CI]：3.0[1.54, 5.82]，p = 0.001）。疼痛在心脏超声医师中更为严重（p = 0.020），持续时间更长（p = 0.050）。受影响最严重的身体部位是肩部（63.2%比 24.4%）、手部（55.9%比 18.6%）、颈部（51.3%比 35.9%）和肘部（23%比 4.5%；p<0.01 ）。心脏超声医师的疼痛干扰了他们的日常和社会活动，并中断了他们的工作相关活动（所有 p<0.05）。更多的心脏超声医师计划改变职业（43.4%比 15.8%；p<0.0001）。更多的心脏超声医师意识到 WRMSP（81%比 77%）及其潜在风险（70%比 67%）。然而，心脏超声医师很少使用推荐的预防工效学措施来改善工作实践，接受的工效学教育和培训不足，以及工作环境和雇主支持不足。
与对照组相比，心脏超声医师的 WRMSP 更为频繁和严重，对他们的日常、社会和工作相关活动以及未来的就业计划产生了不利影响。尽管对 WRMSP 及其潜在风险有较高的认识，但心脏超声医师很少使用推荐的预防工效学措施，工作环境和雇主支持不足。
