Department of Otolaryngology, Sean Parker Institute for the Voice, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Department of Otolaryngology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Mar;170(3):788-794. doi: 10.1002/ohn.568. Epub 2023 Oct 27.
To assess the nature and impact surgical ergonomic challenges experienced by female otolaryngologists.
National survey study.
Female otolaryngology residents, fellows and attendings recruited via social media posting and email distribution.
We distributed a survey study to female otolaryngologists throughout the United States. The height and glove size of participants reporting difficulties with equipment and instruments were compared to those not reporting difficulties.
Ninety-six female otolaryngologists participated in our study, comprised of 43% residents, 10% fellows, and 47% attendings. Ninety percent of participants reported difficulties using equipment and 77% of participants reported difficulty with instruments, the most common being nasal endoscopic instruments (28%). The vast majority of participants reported pain during and (or) after the operation (92%). Head and neck (53%) and rhinology (44%) were identified as particularly challenging specialities, but only 25% of participants reported that ergonomics affected their career plans. Participants felt that adjustable equipment (60%), a variety of sizes of instruments (43%), and more discussion around ergonomics (47%) would help. Respondents reported adjusting the operating room to accommodate their size took extra time (44%) and was a mental burden (39%). Participants reporting difficulties with operating room equipment were significantly shorter than those without difficulties (64 inches vs 67 inches, P = .037), and those reporting difficulties with instruments had a smaller median glove size (6 vs 6.5, P = .018).
Surgical ergonomics represent a challenge for female otolaryngologists, particularly those with smaller hands and shorter height. Partnering with industry, we must address the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce to ensure that all surgeons can operate effectively and comfortably.
评估女性耳鼻喉科医生所经历的手术工效学挑战的性质和影响。
全国性调查研究。
通过社交媒体发布和电子邮件分发，招募女性耳鼻喉科住院医师、研究员和主治医生参与研究。
我们向美国各地的女性耳鼻喉科医生分发了一份调查研究。报告设备和器械使用困难的参与者的身高和手套尺寸与未报告困难的参与者进行了比较。
共有 96 名女性耳鼻喉科医生参与了我们的研究，其中包括 43%的住院医师、10%的研究员和 47%的主治医生。90%的参与者报告在使用设备方面存在困难，77%的参与者报告在使用器械方面存在困难，最常见的是鼻内镜器械（28%）。绝大多数参与者报告在手术过程中或之后感到疼痛（92%）。头部和颈部（53%）和鼻科学（44%）被认为是特别具有挑战性的专业，但只有 25%的参与者报告工效学影响了他们的职业规划。参与者认为可调节设备（60%）、各种尺寸的器械（43%）和更多关于工效学的讨论（47%）会有所帮助。受访者报告说，调整手术室以适应他们的体型需要额外的时间（44%），并且会带来精神负担（39%）。报告手术室设备使用困难的参与者明显比没有困难的参与者矮（64 英寸对 67 英寸，P=0.037），报告器械使用困难的参与者手套尺寸中位数较小（6 对 6.5，P=0.018）。
手术工效学对女性耳鼻喉科医生来说是一个挑战，特别是那些手小和身高较矮的医生。与工业界合作，我们必须满足日益多样化的劳动力的需求，以确保所有外科医生都能够有效地、舒适地进行手术。
